💧 Psychedelic leader caught in fraud scandal

Good morning! Thanks for tapping back in with The Drop In. This week we’re discussing a highly debated topic everyone loves to freak out about: psychosis.

Our featured story this week explores a study on whether using psychedelics as a teen increases the likelihood of experiencing psychosis. It’s a touchy topic! Many are quick to jump to psychedelics’ defense in this debate—myself included. The same goes for cannabis: People RAGE at the idea of it causing psychosis. The root of this defensiveness undoubtedly stems from decades of wielding “psychosis” as a weapon of drug war propaganda. And so many of us have had the exact opposite experience with these substances—positive transformations, healing trauma, and ushering in huge life shifts. It checks out why we jump down the throats of those who accuse our beloved Schedule I’s of causing psychotic episodes. 

But, putting our biases aside for just a sec…can these substances actually trigger psychosis in people, particularly adolescents? We don’t do spoilers here, so you’ll have to read our take on the most recent study linked below. We’ll leave you with this, though: The answer is nuanced, like everything in life.

If you keep scrolling do past our featured story, you’ll find other juicy pieces on the DEA’s ridiculous religious exemption process, drama surrounding a psychedelics activist pretending to be a veteran, and what you should watch on TV while tripping. DoubleBlind is also hosting a microdosing workshop in just a couple of weeks! You’ll learn how to create your own vibrant, heart-opening medicine at home, which is really powerful knowledge given how contaminated the market is these days. You can learn more about the workshop here.

In the meantime, enjoy these reads! We’ll check back in with you soon. ♡

Stay cool ❄️,

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

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Our Latest

A federal government watchdog agency says in a new report that the Drug Enforcement Administration should improve the process through which it considers granting religious exemptions for psilocybin and other controlled substances, asserting that the existing route lacks clarity on timing, evaluation, and other matters.

Massachusetts psychedelic legalization faces controversy as James Davis, founder of Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, is accused of fraud and identity theft. Davis allegedly impersonated Mike Botelho, co-founder of New England Veterans for Plant Medicine, for nine months.

When tripping, TV can be a mixed bag, potentially turning a good trip bad with the wrong clip or sound. To help, we've compiled a list of our favorite trippy TV shows that are enjoyable whether you're high or sober. These shows offer both stunning visuals and immersive soundtracks to enhance the experience. 

& More Must-Reads

• The Wixárika people of Mexico face challenges in maintaining their 15,000-year-old sacred peyote pilgrimage due to mining and poaching threats.

• The international drag queen sensation Laganja Estranja doesn't trip much these days, but her work embodies what it means to be psychedelic.

• Pro sports stars open up about how psychedelics impacted their lives and created "doorways to the future."

Trip Tales

Have you had a profound experience with psychedelics before? Share your story with us for a chance to be featured in The Drop In. Submit your entry here.

Join Us

Curious about working in psychedelics? Already involved but want to expand your reach?

Our Working in Psychedelics Summit is now discounted and on demand! Gain insights from pioneers and thought leaders on how to grow your social media presence, navigate censorship, engage in Indigenous reciprocity, and more.

Discover seven practical workshops and panels covering everything from psychedelic entrepreneurship to becoming a therapist or facilitator.

Watch at your own pace and revisit anytime. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape your role in the psychedelic movement.

👉 Click here to watch now!

Learn with Us

👶Should a nursing parent abstain from psychedelics? Yes and no—here's what the science and indigenous wisdom tell about this practice.

🛑 Anthony Bourdain says it best: “Do not ever take LSD with assholes.” Here are the biggest reasons people have a "bad trip.” 

🍄 The origin of the fast-growing Z-Strain mushroom may be shrouded in underground lore—but cultivators still love reliable fungus.

🦋 Finding psychedelics is always risky in an era of prohibition. Here's how you can journey without breaking the law.

DoubleBlind Supports

ATTEND: Majority cultural norms in the United States suppress our ability to feel grief deeply and safely. In their work, Camille Barton honors the unique experiences of BIPOC and queer communities, acknowledging losses from displacement, colonization, and societal judgment. Join Camille and Michelle Cassandra Johnson in a gentle conversation on tending to grief, honoring what arises, and moving forward in healing.

DONATE: Support MA'AT, the Matriarchal Alliance for Accountability and Transparency, in their mission to bring justice to survivors of harm in the psychedelic and wellness community. Your donation will provide immediate housing, food security, and counseling for those affected. Help raise $75,000 to support mothers, women, and children in need. Donate and share today to make a difference.

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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From the Magazine

“What would it be like, instead, to submerge ourselves in this feeling of Void—to really listen to what it needs to heal? To reconnect with stories of our ancestors who practiced ritual and moved with the seasons? This may seem lost to us, but their memories live in our bodies—they are woven into the fabric of our DNA. Try speaking to them and see what emerges. Know that their whispers may at first appear as sensations in the body.”

Read the full excerpt from “Tending Grief: Embodied Rituals for Holding Our Sorrow and Growing Cultures of Care in Community” by Camille Sapara Barton in Issue No. 11.

Latest Youtube Video

The work of the late Peruvian artist Pablo Amaringo is many things: surreal, immersive, and hypnotic. At its essence, however, his paintings are a reminder of the magic and healing inherent in the plant world—and of our obligation to protect it. In our latest on YouTube, DB’s Shelby Hartman explores his colorful life and impact on ayahuasca art.

Click here to watch and be inspired.