Here’s Why Psychedelics Actually Enhances Meditation

Good morning and welcome to another edition of The Drop In, DoubleBlind’s newsletter delivering independent journalism about psychedelics straight to your inbox.

Today’s featured stories are about how psychedelics, specifically psilocybin and DMT, impact meditation. The other concerns the U.S. Sentencing Commission possibly making amendments to the federal drug sentencing guidelines. If you keep scrolling, you’ll find stories about the health benefits of human connection, the environmental and human costs of the iboga trade, and what the coca plant can teach us about sacraments and the drug war.

LASTLY, mark your calendars for March 30! DoubleBlind is hosting a workshop with Willy Myco on how to synthesize LSD — yes, you read that correctly. The conversation will be facilitated by drugs journalist Patrick Maravelias, who broke the story about Willy’s most recent video that set the internet aflame. (Here’s the feature, ICYMI.) You can learn more about the event here.

Drop acid, not bombs 🖖

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

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People Who Meditate Say Psychedelics Deepen Their Practice

A new study found that the intentional use of psychedelics, specifically psilocybin and DMT, leads to deeper meditation and greater psychological benefits.

A new study suggests that psychedelics may enhance meditation, with three in four regular meditators reporting positive effects from their use of entheogens like psilocybin and DMT, Marijuana Moment reports.

Published in PLoS ONE, the study surveyed 863 adults who meditated at least three times per week. 73.5 percent said psychedelics had improved the quality of their meditation. Researchers found that individuals who used psychedelics more frequently, set clear intentions, and had an “agreeable personality” were the most likely to report benefits. Consuming N,N-DMT also correlated with greater perceived improvements post meditation.

“These findings indicate that most meditators view psychedelic use as a beneficial influence on their practice,” the authors wrote. The results align with growing scientific interest in the intersection of meditation and psychedelics, both of which have been linked to potential therapeutic effects.

The study references prior research, including a trial where 39 meditators received either psilocybin or a placebo during a five-day mindfulness retreat. Participants who took psilocybin reported a stronger sense of ego dissolution and improved psychosocial well-being afterward. Another qualitative study found that individuals who combined psychedelics with meditation perceived an enhancement in both their psychedelic experiences and meditation practice.

Participants in the latest study (who were between the ages of 18 and 81) were asked to rate their experiences on a seven-point scale, ranging from a strong negative to a strong positive influence. The average response was 5.49, suggesting a generally strong positive influence. Through machine learning analysis, the study found that the strongest predictor of perceived benefits was the frequency of psychedelic use, followed by intentionality.

While the study did not assess whether participants used psychedelics during meditation itself, researchers concluded that those who integrate psychedelics into their routine with a clear and intentional purpose may experience greater benefits.

Are the Federal Drug Sentencing Guidelines About to Change?

For the first time in years, the U.S. Sentencing Commission is reevaluating harsh drug sentences — potentially reshaping federal drug policy and offering relief to those serving excessive time.

For the first time in years, federal drug sentencing guidelines are facing substantive reevaluation, a move reform advocates have been fighting for decades to achieve. The U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) has announced proposed amendments that could reduce the maximum recommended sentences for certain drug offenses and introduce mitigating factors that allow for shorter prison terms for drug trafficking, methamphetamine purity, and possession of illegal firearms within the context of drug busts.

More specifically, the proposal takes aim at supervised release, or the federal equivalent of parole, which has long functioned as an extension of incarceration rather than a tool for rehabilitation. The proposed amendments aim to grant judges greater discretion to determine the conditions on which supervised release is imposed.

“The court should order a term of supervised release… when, and only when, warranted by an individualized assessment of the need for supervision,” the proposal states in the Federal Register: Sentencing Guidelines for United States Courts. In other words, supervised release would no longer be a one-size-fits-all condition added onto sentences as an afterthought — it would require a full assessment of whether an individual benefits from supervision after serving time. The amendment would also provide clearer guidelines for modifying or terminating supervised release early, recognizing that prolonged government oversight usually causes more harm than good.

The focal point of the proposed amendments is drug trafficking sentencing, particularly how the system currently punishes individuals at the bottom of the supply chain with the same severity as the “big fish” at the top. The proposed amendments suggest introducing a “trafficking functions reduction,” which could lower sentences for those in more minor roles, such as couriers, and low-level dealers and distributors — who are often swept up in conspiracy charges that come with heavy mandatory minimums. Currently, someone simply transporting drugs for a cartel can receive the same base offense level as the person orchestrating the entire operation.

“The Commission is considering… a new specific offense characteristic providing for a reduction relating to low-level trafficking functions,” the document states, signaling a shift away from punishing every person in the chain as if they were a kingpin.

The amendments also tackle nuances around sentencing for firearms in drug cases, a common issue that compounds already harsh drug penalties. Under the current guidelines, possessing a firearm at the time of arrest — regardless of whether it was used — triggers an automatic sentence increase. This policy disproportionately impacts those in a broader drug ecosystem — such as “lookouts,” people buying for personal use, landlords, or drivers — where guns are often present but not necessarily used in the commission of a crime. The proposal seeks to refine this standard, particularly when it comes to machine guns, ensuring that sentence enhancements reflect actual risk and intent rather than the mere presence of a weapon. If adopted, the amendment could reduce excessive penalties for cases where firearms are found but not wielded, ensuring a more proportional approach to sentencing.

Methamphetamine purity is another issue taken up in the amendment proposal. Current sentencing guidelines treat high-purity meth, or “ice,” more harshly than lower-purity forms — despite little evidence that purity levels correlate with harm or intent. The proposed amendment suggests revising these guidelines, potentially reducing sentencing disparities and acknowledging that purity distinctions don’t always equate to higher culpability. If it is approved, it could mark a step toward sentencing reform that reflects the realities of the drug trade rather than outdated assumptions about its dangers.

The U.S. is infamous for its harsh drug sentencing laws that feed prison industrial complex. The severity of these laws can be traced back to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and the 1994 Crime Bill, both of which escalated mandatory minimums and led to mass incarceration. While public opinion and scientific understanding of drug use have evolved since then, federal sentencing laws have remained largely unchanged, fueling systemic inequities and overcrowded prisons.

Join Us

FREE WORKSHOP | Synthesizing LSD with Willy Myco

A few months ago, we dropped a bombshell of a story about the first-ever synthesis of LSD on camera. It was done by the exceedingly brave mycologist, chemist, and psychedelic educator, Willy Myco. 

Making that video happen was a wild ride of international politics, legal loopholes, and uncomfortable attention from the FBI.

Join us for an electrifying discussion between journalist Patrick Maravelias and Willy Myco on the making of his LSD synthesis video. 

Trust us, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

The workshop is free for all DB+ members. If you’re not a member, you can sign up for your free trial here.

Join DB+ and Get the Workshop Free!

Learn with Us

👨‍❤️‍👨 Only a supremely disconnected culture would need scientific validation for why feeling connected to other humans is a good idea. But here we are. We interviewed psychiatrist Julie Holland on the biochemistry of feeling good and the many, many, many health benefits of human connection. Read it here

🌿 Coca was THE sacred plant of the Andes for thousands of years. So how did it go from a gift of the gods to the cash cow of murderous cartels and a global party phenomenon? And what might it still have to teach us? Read more about the profound lessons of Coca.

🌾 Psychedelics widen our perspective and help us discern patterns in the world around us. As it turns out, permaculture has a lot to teach us in this realm. Read more about the deep connections between psychedelics and permaculture.

🌸 Spring is upon us! Trees are budding, birds are nesting, and days are getting longer. It’s a perfect time for an inner “spring cleaning” mushroom journey. To help you plan your next trip, here are 22 things to do on mushrooms.

DoubleBlind Supports

ATTEND: Women’s Rewilding Retreat in Costa Rica, April 14-20

Women on Psychedelics (WOOP!) is an organization dedicated to empowering women on their personal journeys of self-discovery and healing. They create safe and supportive spaces for women to bravely explore the mindful use of psychedelics without judgment.

Their Rewilding Retreat offers a powerful blend of nature experiences, plant medicine, and personalized guidance within a container of sisterhood to help you cultivate self-love. 

Learn more about Rewilding and Women on Psychedelics here

At DoubleBlind, we believe in reciprocity—the idea that everything in the world is interconnected and that we have a responsibility to uplift a psychedelic ecosystem that centers equity, inclusivity, and healing for all. Through our work, we hope to help our community participate in this effort with us.

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At Confluence, nestled in the beautiful mountains of southern Oregon, transformation is amplified by connection—connection to forgotten parts of self, to nature, and to each other. Their small group format offers a level of depth and healing that clinical models often lack.  This collective dynamic reflects and deepens our own personal healing.  Register today with the link below and save $500 on your retreat.

Experience the top-rated psilocybin retreat center in the U.S.

Latest Youtube Video

Should Parents Take Psychedelics? 

Parenting can be a loaded topic. Everyone has an opinion. This is especially true when it comes to psychedelics. 

That’s just one of the juicy topics Shelby digs into with Mikaela de la Myco, a respected folk herbalist, educator, and entheogen facilitator. They cover motherhood, women’s empowerment, the body’s internal ecosystems, community, and how psychedelics touch all of these. 

Watch the video here