💧 Psychedelic mushroom market to hit $3.3 billion (we’re gonna need more baggies...)

Happy Monday, and welcome back to The Drop In! Yesterday, we had the privilege of diving into the latest science on microdosing with Dr. Jim Fadian, the “Father of Microdosing”; Dr. Connor Murray, PhD., a neuroscientist exploring altered states of consciousness at UCLA’s Semel Institute; and Danielle Nova and Adam Bramlage, the minds behind the Microdosing Facilitator Training, for a webinar on how microdosing impacts the brain. 

The debate over whether microdosing is a breakthrough or just an elaborate placebo kicks up a tremendous amount of controversy—especially on psychedelic Twitter 😉. But science is beginning to provide some clarity.

At yesterday’s webinar, Dr. Conor Murray, Ph.D., shared results from a placebo-controlled study where low doses of LSD (13 and 26 micrograms) were given to healthy adults to examine effects on reward-related brain activity—a response often dulled in depression. Surprisingly, the smaller dose enhanced this brain activity, even when participants couldn’t tell they’d taken the drug. So what’s the takeaway? There might be a “sweet spot” where microdosing sharpens brain function without altering perception… at least for some people!

Dr. Jim Fadiman also laid out countless ways microdosing can support healthier living. Since his 2011 book, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide, which first introduced microdosing to the mainstream, he’s been gathering stories for a follow-up packed with examples of people of all ages benefiting from low doses of psychedelics. His new book, Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance, includes some wild cases — students managing ADHD better with psychedelics than with Adderall, how microdosing elongates creativity and can make you a better partner, easing chronic pain, and even signs of improvement in Alzheimer’s symptoms. 

More research is needed, of course, but hearing experts discuss the science behind microdosing was truthfully fascinating. If you ever get the chance to see Dr. Jim Fadiman or Dr. Connor Murray present, don’t miss it.

Also, Danielle Nova and Adam Bramlage, shared a $250 discount code for the Microdosing Facilitator Training if you’re looking to deepen your microdosing practice and support others. The code is: DBMICRO

As always, this newsletter is packed with journalistic gems. Scroll down for stories on the billion-dollar mushroom market forecast, a wild ketamine-assisted live music event, and why you should prooobably be lemon tekking 😛🍋.

Happy trails 🖖🏾,

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

Together With Allies Botanicals

Potent Plant Allies for Every Stage of Your Psychedelic Journey

Psychedelics inevitably take a toll on your body, especially your nervous system. Depending on the medicine and the dose, the comedown can range anywhere from “tired” to “hellish”. 

Supporting your system with the right mix of botanicals can make a huge difference in how you process and integrate a psychedelic experience. 

Allies Botanicals make some of the best we’ve ever seen. They offer plant-based, practical support tailored for key phases of your psychedelic experience — before, during, and after.

They are formulated by an incredible team of herbalists and healing arts practitioners with decades of experience. They are serious plant wizards with hearts of gold. 

Whether in celebration, ceremony, or therapy, Allies Botanicals supports the full arc of your psychedelic experience from intention-setting through integration and beyond.

Use the code FollowPlants to get 15% off your first order.

Our Latest

Mushroom gummies are pre-dosed, portable, discreet, and don’t taste like dirt—perfect for microdosing on the go. But sometimes, there are so many options and variations, it’s confusing to find the right one. From the mystical to the practical (and even a recipe) this guide will help you find what you’re looking for.

We may be entering a new art-centric paradigm for psychedelic therapy. Last week, renowned ambient musician Don Slepian performed live for a group ketamine therapy session. Is this the beginning of a new trend? Get the full story here.

Is this wild mushroom among the world’s most potent? New results suggest it might be—with some caveats. Read our newly updated review of Psilocybe zapotecorum.

& More Must-Reads

• When did fun become taboo to the psychedelic narrative? The psychedelic therapy industry actively overlooks the role the Grateful Dead played in getting us here. And it’s largely because they used psychedelics for fun. So here’s a celebration of fun with drugs with some of the most jaw-dropping, and hilarious shenanigans of the Grateful Dead’s adventures.
  

• Could a piece of your soul really “split off”? Or is that just a metaphor for trauma? A journalist explores the history and healing of soul retrieval, an ancient practice of tangled interpretations. Read how to mend a fractured spirit here.

• Despite recent failures to pass pro-psychedelic legislation, public attitudes towards psilocybin are overwhelmingly positive. In one study, nearly 9 in 10 Americans viewed psilocybin treatment as a good thing. Read this deeper look at psychedelics in public opinion.
  

• The COVID pandemic had a lot of not-so-nice effects. But one of the more curious and (potentially) beneficial ones is how it pushed many people to try psychedelics for the first time. A report shows that 50% of all microdosers started during the pandemic years. Get the full scoop here.
  
  

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Issue No. 12 of DoubleBlind’s print magazine is coming soon!  And it’s just in time for the cozy winter days of drinking tea and reading.

Get the best of independent psychedelic journalism, photography, and more delivered right to your doorstep.

Pre-order yours here or get it free with a DoubleBlind+ Membership.

Learn with Us

🍋 Want a stronger, shorter mushroom journey that’s easier on your stomach? Try Lemon Tekking.

🕺 Need to get away to some warmer, sunnier weather and all-night dance parties? Check our guide to raving in Ibiza.

🍄 Mold contamination is the bane of all would-be mushroom cultivators. Here’s our top tips for keeping your mushrooms healthy and fresh.

🍽️ Most recipes involving magic mushrooms rely on sweets—typically chocolates or honey. Here’s one that’s savory (and dangerously good. Be sure to watch your dosage!).

DoubleBlind Supports

Interested in the future of safer and more inclusive psychedelic practices? 

Our friends at PsyAware, a not-for-profit dedicated to creating safer psychedelic pathways through support and education are hosting a pivotal event discussing this future. 

Psychedelic Safety First: Upholding Ethics, Inclusivity, and Participant Care brings together leading voices for an open, community-focused discussion, the event will explore ethics and inclusivity in the psychedelic field – through the lens of harm reduction,  participant care, and embodied justice. This is the beginning of the shift toward a global psychedelic culture that is inclusive, responsible, and deeply connected to collective well-being. 

It’s happening this coming Saturday 23 November.

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.

Together With Microdosing Facilitator Training

Join the Microdosing Revolution and Become a Leader in Transformative Wellness

The microdosing revolution is here—are you ready to lead it? Flow State’s Microdosing Facilitator Training is designed to position you at the forefront of mental health and personal transformation. As the demand for innovative approaches to well-being grows, this is your chance to be a pioneer in a field that’s reshaping lives and advancing human potential. 

Use the code DBMICRO to save $250.

Become a certified Microdosing Facilitator Here.

Watch Now

Did you know we have a Medicine Music series on YouTube? It’s an exploration of the relationship between plant medicines, creativity, personal growth, and mysticism with our favorite artists. 

In this one, we talk with Rapper 6LACK and singer QUIN. They had a viral hit called “Mushroom Chocolate,” but there’s much more to this collaboration. They have a love story for the ages, infused with plant medicine journeys, creative collaborations, and a foundation of deep friendship. Watch the full interview here.