💧 Stoned ape theory proven?

Hello, and Happy Thursday! Thanks for Dropping In to the latest installation of DB’s newsletter. We hope you enjoy this journalistic rabbit hole of culture, news, science, and info on all-things psychedelics. This week we’ve been marinating on the latest research validating Terence McKenna’s Stoned Ape Theory. 🙊 

Two things happened when McKenna dropped his renowned hypothesis in the 1992 book, Food of the Gods. First, his theory (and book) became gospel to psychonauts. The second was that mainstream scientists unanimously discredited and dismissed it, relegating it to nothing more than a high thought.  (Jokes on them, though, because high thoughts are brilliant, even if fleeting!)

But McKenna was ahead of his time — and a group of researchers just published a paper essentially saying that. Our featured story this week is written by Ben Adlin for Marijuana Moment (one of our syndication partners!) about why we should reconsider the role psilocybin mushrooms played in the development of human consciousness. It’s linked below! 

We also have the hook on a new Kanna vape (whaaat?!), an update on the Church of Sacred Synthesis’s psilomethoxin defamation lawsuit, a feature on the death-positivity movement, and a news piece about lush rooftop gardens becoming the settings for psychedelic therapy and research.

🐒⚡🍄,

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

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Our Latest

A Texas judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by a psychedelic church against multiple organizations, citing laws designed to protect free speech. The case centers around a controversial sacrament and the intense debate it sparked within the psychedelic community.

At the Death Café, strangers gather over cake and tea to discuss the one thing we all share—our inevitable mortality. These unique meet-ups offer a space for open conversations about loss, grief, and death, leaving participants with a deeper appreciation for life.

Could the future of psychedelic therapy be in rooftop gardens? Major institutions like MGH and UCLA are pioneering research and therapy in lush, elevated green spaces, blending the healing power of nature with cutting-edge studies on psychoactive plants.

& More Must-Reads

• Kava and kratom have been consumed for centuries by other cultures—so why aren’t more people taking these powerful plants?

• After decades of playing on the road and making hits, Melissa Etheridge, the iconic singer-songwriter, turns her attention to destigmatizing psychedelics.

• Counterculture rebel Richard Fariña died on the cusp of fame. His only novel remains essential reading for literary psychonauts with a penchant for the absurd.

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.

Wear Your Support

Show the world where you stand on psychedelics with our apparel collection. When you wear our gear, you're not just making a fashion statement—you're making a statement for change. 

Every purchase directly supports our mission to deliver trusted journalism in the psychedelic space. Join us in spreading the message, one shirt (or tote bag) at a time. 

Wear your support, fuel the movement. Shop DoubleBlind apparel now.

Learn with Us

🍄 Psilocybe is a diverse genus, but none are as unique as Aotearoa's hallucinogenic pouch fungus, Psilocybe weraroa.

🧐 Navigating the world of psychedelic retreats can be challenging—how do you know you've found a good place? Here's where to look for help.

💥 Do orgasms cause the release of the brain’s natural DMT supply? The truth is that we don’t know—and it’s worth asking why.

👅 The afterglow of a powerful LSD journey can set the stage for significant personal change—but how long does it last?

DoubleBlind Digs

Here are today’s recommendations to help you live more psychedelically… 

1. We’re reading Tim Ferris’s “5-Bullet Friday” newsletter every Friday, and you should too. It’s true—we’ve been fans of Tim Ferris for a while, from his support of the psychedelic movement to his philosophies on breaking free from the hustle. His weekly newsletter rounds up five of the coolest things he’s found or explored that week. It’s a must for your inbox. Sign up here.

2. Can you imagine yourself at 80? Who do you want to be? Can you show yourself gratitude? The Artist’s Way has gone through 30 reprints for a reason—this book is a classic, and it’s good! We love this as a tool to help us get familiar with ourselves and the stories that we’re harboring. Grab your copy here.*

3. Add this to your podcast list! For the Wild is an anthology of the Anthropocene; focused on land-based protection, co-liberation, and intersectional storytelling in a paradigm shift away from human supremacy, endless growth, and consumerism. We’ve found it deeply inspiring. Listen here.

4. Festival season isn’t over yet. If you’re heading to Burning Man or any other event this summer and plan on getting trippy, don’t forget to test your drugs! Seriously. We forever stan Dance Safe as our source for drug checking kits. They’re a 501(c)3 and they’ve been around since 1999. Shop their kits here.*

*We might earn an affiliate commission from this link but only showcase products we trust.

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Plus, new in 2024—one-on-one mentorship with experienced psychedelic leaders.

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From the Magazine

Welcome to The Trip Zone — Meditations for every stage of your journey

Whether you trip in ceremony, in nature with friends, or by yourself at home, one thing’s clear: The medicine begins before the experience and continues to have an effect after it. 

Tune into our curated soundtracks in Issue No. 6 to be guided in and out of each phase of the process.

Latest Podcast Episode

Hot Goss with Jessica Hundley: Psychedelic Art, Modern Witchcraft, and Esoteric Practices

Explore the intersection of art and the mystical with DB’s Shelby Hartman and guest Jessica Hundley, a journalist and filmmaker known for her work on counterculture and esoteric arts. Jessica delves into the transformative power of plants and herbalism in modern witchcraft and psychedelic art, sharing insights from her acclaimed series, "The Library of Esoterica." Discover how contemporary witchcraft and plant-based spirituality are reshaping culture and reconnecting us with nature and our inner selves

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, Youtube, and more.