The Death Penalty for Drug Dealers Won’t Fix Anything

Welcome back to The Drop In, DoubleBlind’s newsletter serving up news, culture, and independent journalism about psychedelics straight to your inbox. 

Today’s freshly dropped stories cover the Heritage Foundation and Trump’s recent statements about their plans to “address” the overdose crisis in the United States. We have another reported piece about the racial inequities in psychedelic research, which now exists against the backdrop of an increasingly anti-DEI climate in the U.S. You’ll find other stories on LSD for PMDD and PMS, why closing your eyes makes you trip harder, and how to make psilocybin edibles.

​​ALSO! Tomorrow’s subscriber feature explores the advent of plant-based MDMA. (Yes, you read that correctly 😅) Trust me when I say you don’t want to miss this one. Upgrade here and get it tomorrow morning!

Enjoy the ride ❤️💛💚

Mary Carreón
Senior Editor

Together With Pendulum

HAVE HEALTH GOALS FOR 2025? READ THIS 

Whether you want to get into shape, maintain a healthy weight, or just show up for yourself in a healthier way, you will face resistance. But the resistance isn’t psychological. It’s often metabolic. 

If your metabolism isn’t functioning well, you’ll get irresistible cravings. You’re not going to have energy for a workout. You’ll get discouraged when you don’t get results. It’s like trying to move forward with the brakes on.

That’s where Metabolic Daily shines. Powered by 5 next-gen probiotics like Akkermansia muciniphila, it works at the root level to help your body metabolize sugars and carbs more effectively, reduce cravings, and maintain steady energy throughout the day. It’s the gentle nudge your body needs to make progress feel natural—like it should.

Take 20% off your first membership month and let your gut do the heavy lifting. Discount automatically applied at checkout.

Feel the difference here.

Imposing the Death Penalty on Drug Dealers? President Trump Says Do It.

Is it real? Trump talks about the death penalty for drug dealers and a $200 million anti-drug ad blitz — reminding us of failed policies with no proof they work.

At a White House event with governors on Friday, February 21, President Donald Trump once again stated his support to execute drug dealers via the death penalty, calling it a “very humane” approach to tackling America’s overdose crisis, Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger reports. The policy, which would essentially mirror capital punishment laws in countries like China and Singapore, is something Trump says he’s “ready” to implement.

“If you notice, every country that has the death penalty has no drug problem,” Trump said. “They execute drug dealers. And when you think about it, it’s very humane because every drug dealer, on average, they say, kills at least 500 people — not to mention the damage they do to so many others.”

It’s unclear where Trump pulled this stat from. But it isn’t the first time he’s said it. At a rally in November 2022, he stated: “Much of the crime wave is caused by drug dealers who, during the course of their lives, will kill an average of 500 Americans. Think of that. A drug dealer…will kill on average 500 people.”

As the Washington Post pointed out, the exact number of drug dealers in the U.S. remains unknown, making it impossible to determine how many people die by individual sellers. Furthermore, there were roughly 600,000 fatal drug overdoses between 2010 and 2020, according to the National Institutes of Health, WaPo reported. Based on updated data from the National Center for Health Statistics, there were 424,654 additional overdose deaths between 2021 and 2024, bringing the sum to 1,024,654 drug fatalities in the U.S. since 2010. Using that updated number, Trump's claim would imply that there are around 2,049 total drug dealers in the United States, which is grossly inaccurate, especially considering the federal government prosecutes upwards of 20,000 drug traffickers a year.

Additionally, there’s hardly evidence showing that countries with the death penalty for drug offenses have eliminated substance-use problems. 

Trump also floated another grand initiative: pouring millions into a public service announcement campaign aimed at scaring Americans away from using drugs. Nancy Reagan is undoubtedly cackling from her rotting grave.

“When some young kid is sitting down watching this commercial a couple of times, I really don’t think they’re going to be taking drugs,” he said. Trump went so far as to predict a 50% drop in U.S. drug use from running Just-Say-No-2.0 advertisements.

The president’s latest absurdities come on the heels of a Heritage Foundation-supported Op-Ed. The piece bemoans America’s “fading bipartisan commitment to drug enforcement,” blaming the overdose crisis on everything from harm reduction policies to the normalization of substance use — specifically the medical cannabis and psychedelics movements. Its solution? A return to aggressive federal crackdowns.

"Those who are driving the normalization of substance use as a chemical shortcut for pleasure or relief are willing to sacrifice long-term well-being for short-term escapism,” the article states.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) points out that the United States has continuously defaulted to arresting people as its primary response to drugs. Yet, under a regime of prohibition and incarceration, the drug supply has only grown more dangerous, overdose deaths have surged, and human suffering is more visible than ever.

“Drug criminalization diverts taxpayer dollars and funding away from health services and treatment,” the DPA writes. “Every 31 seconds, someone is arrested for a drug offense, while individuals seeking drug treatment face weeks- or months-long waitlists. Arrest records and felony convictions follow people for years, which can result in people losing access to housing, employment, and more.”

There’s a lot more to say on this topic, particularly regarding how these recent remarks serve as dog whistles for increased racialized policing. If history has shown us anything, it’s that crackdowns masquerading as “public health” measures rarely end in justice.

Why This Black Therapist Walked Away from Psychedelic Research

After years of navigating exclusion and systemic issues in psychedelic clinical trials, therapist Candace Oglesby-Adepoju pens an open letter about why she left the field.

In a powerful open letter to the psychedelic science community, therapist Candace Oglesby-Adepoju calls out the systemic racism, exclusion, and professional disregard that ultimately drove her to step away from psychedelic clinical trials.

Published in the MAPS Bulletin, Oglesby-Adepoju’s letter recounts her years of navigating predominantly white research spaces as the only Black therapist in the room. She says she faced microaggressions, dismissiveness, and an unwillingness to address structural inequities. Her efforts to advocate for meaningful inclusion of communities of color were also routinely met with deflection. Discussions about diversity were similarly labeled “not a priority” or ignored altogether.

“The consistent invalidation of my advocacy and the systemic neglect of people who look like me have left a deep mark, reinforcing the painful message that my Black body — and the bodies of those who share oppressed intersections — do not matter,” she writes.

All of this comes at a time when DEI initiatives are being dismantled at the behest of the Trump administration. And it’s already making it harder for historically marginalized groups to access the healthcare they need. “We've already witnessed the impact of policy changes, such as the requirement for Medicare recipients to cease virtual therapy come April 1st…” Oglesby-Adepoju tells DoubleBlind. “The erosion of DEI initiatives not only limits access to innovative mental health treatments but also deepens existing inequities.”

Her decision to leave the field wasn’t made lightly. When she was first invited to participate in clinical trials, she was told that her inclusion was meant to support diversity efforts. “To even begin getting paid, I was required to volunteer 100 hours,” Oglesby-Adepoju says. “I had to get curious — here I was, invited into a space to support diversity, yet the infrastructure to support my specific needs as a Black woman was sorely lacking.”

She tells us that systemic barriers remained even after proving she was a skilled practitioner. “Some might say, ‘Well, I’m not a person of color, and I’ve had to deal with this too.’ And while that may be true, being a Black woman means I am also impacted by the broader systemic issue of the Black wealth gap,” she says. “According to the Federal Reserve, the median wealth of white households in the U.S. is nearly eight times that of Black households — $188,200 compared to $24,100. For single Black women, the numbers are even more stark, with a median wealth of just $200 compared to $15,640 for single white women.”

Without a genuine commitment to equity, psychedelic therapy risks becoming another elitist arm of the wellness industry — an industry largely built on extracting wisdom from historically marginalized communities. While some people actively push back against these exploitative forces, the broader system remains one that profits off ancestral knowledge without meaningfully supporting the people it came from.

“This is not the time to be neutral or complicit,” she says. “If we are as innovative, enlightened, and evolved as we claim to be, then we must ask ourselves: Where does that fit into the global macro-issue of white supremacy and oppression?”

She’s right. If the psychedelic movement claims to be about healing, it must start by addressing the systemic barriers that keep healing out of reach for so many.

Join Us

DB’s Trip Sitting Course is Open!

Holding space for a friend or loved one is a beautiful gift to give and surprisingly rewarding. 

But it is not without challenges. Your words, presence, and response to their needs influence their experience. A little guidance and a solid framework can go a long way toward creating a healing, transformational experience for both parties.

If you want to trip sit (or are looking for trip sitters), our Trip Sitting course gives you tried and true guidelines for giving and receiving support in your psychedelic journeys. 

It’s free for all DB+ members. If you’re not a member, sign up for your free trial below:

Join DB+ and Get Our Trip Sit Course Free

Learn with Us

👁️ Ever wonder why psychedelic therapists use eye masks? Turns out closing your eyes can make you trip harder and enhance therapeutic benefits. Read more about the science of visual stimulation and psychedelics here.

🎨 Looking for something creative to do on a rainy day that doesn’t involve a screen? Put on your favorite playlist and make psychedelic art! Here are our favorite ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  (pairs well with a microdose 😉)

🍄 Need a more delicious way to consume your shrooms? Check out our Mushroom Edibles Guide with recipes that don’t taste like dirt, plus tips on heating, dosing, and reducing nausea. 

🌿 With 1000+ medicinal plants found in their tribal lands of the Peruvian Amazon, the Matses tribe are stewards of an incredible wealth of healing knowledge. Now thanks to an ambitious preservation project, they are finally being documented. Go deeper into the Matses’ Indigenous wisdom here (and check out the gorgeous photo essay of the Matses people!)

DoubleBlind Supports

DONATE: Acaté Amazon Conservation

Dedicated to preserving Matses culture, territory, and knowledge, the Acaté Amazon Conservation is one of Peru's most ambitious Indigenous conservation organizations. With a focus on sustainability, self-sufficiency, and meeting the genuine needs of the Matses people, they are a driving force for protecting Indigenous wisdom. For more on the Matsés tribe, look at our feature and photo essay above. To learn more about AAC and donate, go here:

👉Support Indigenous Cultural Preservation in the Amazon

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.

These cannabis gummies keep selling out in 2023

If you've ever struggled to enjoy cannabis due to the harshness of smoking or vaping, you're not alone. That’s why these new cannabis gummies caught our eye.

Mood is an online dispensary that has invented a “joint within a gummy” that’s extremely potent yet federally-legal. Their gummies are formulated to tap into the human body’s endocannabinoid system.

Although this system was discovered in the 1990’s, farmers and scientists at Mood were among the first to figure out how to tap into it with cannabis gummies. Just 1 of their rapid onset THC gummies can get you feeling right within 5 minutes!

Order Now

Watch Now

Shamanic Wisdom, Modern Psychology, and Collective Healing: Deep Dive with Ido Cohen

Dr. Ido Cohen lives at the intersection of modern psychology, shamanic wisdom, and spiritual healing. DB co-founder Shelby sat down with him to discuss how these jigsaw pieces fit together in our modern cultural context. How do Jungian archetypes fit into plant medicine work? Where do individual and collective healing overlap? What is the difference between shamanic and psychological approaches to trauma?

We dig into all this and more in this illuminating conversation with Dr. Cohen.

Watch it here.