The Ethics of Mainstreaming Psychedelics
We’re at a pivotal moment in psychedelic history. The interest in psychedelics among the general population is growing exponentially. Meanwhile, hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into psychedelic drug development, with some projecting the industry is less than five years behind cannabis. But psychedelics aren’t just any other industry. Since they’ve been used ceremonially for millennia, the industrialization of these powerful compounds brings up unique ethical considerations. What does it look like to create a psychedelic “industry” that’s truly inclusive? How can we engage in reciprocity and uphold reverence for the Indigenous stewards of psychedelic plants and fungi? And should anyone be profiting from psychedelics at all?
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Ismail Ali
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Shelby Hartman
DoubleBlind Magazine
Sutton King, Mph, Nāēqtaw-Pianakiw
Urban Indigenous Collective
Bennet Zelner
Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park