The Three Essential Rules to Psychedelic Use
Recent decriminalization of select psychedelics demands more public education.
Earlier this year, the citizens of Denver voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, laying the groundwork for a new chapter in our culture’s relationship with a class of drugs long considered taboo. With promising research focused on the potential benefits of controlled psychedelic use and the growing number of influential voices like Tim Ferriss leveraging their platforms to champion the issue, it’s time for America to have a serious conversation about psychedelics.
Few people are more knowledgeable about the impact of these drugs on the human body, psyche, and spirit, than Dr. Rick Strassman. Strassman is a pioneer in the field of psychedelic research. In the 1990s he conducted an intensive US government-funded clinical study of the chemical substance dimethyltryptamine, more commonly known as DMT. The fascinating results compelled Dr. Strassman to author the book “DMT: The Spirit Molecule”, which laid the foundation for the subsequent documentary bearing the same name. Starring Joe Rogan and recently made available on Netflix, the film examines the connection between psychedelic use and spirituality.
Strassman explains that patients, who were monitored and supervised by medical professionals, often had positive, transformational experiences after taking controlled doses of psychedelics. Once largely ignored by the mainstream scientific community, the groundbreaking results are now supported by vigorous research from a growing number of experts embracing psychedelic microdosing to combat addiction, depression, and even enhancing their relationships.
But Strassman thinks our human relationship with DMT is even more complex. He theorizes that an increased amount of DMT, a molecule naturally produced by the human body, is released at the time of death. Scientists do not currently have the technology to accurately measure DMT in the bloodstream, but this theory would explain why so many near-death experiences are described as strikingly similar to recreational “acid trips.”
A recent study co-authored by Dr. Strassman and University of Michigan researchers revealed high levels of DMT in dying rats. If Strassman’s theories continue to be proven correct, the biology books of the future will showcase an expanded nervous system.
The implications of this research would demand more public education and dialogue about our relationship with psychedelics and their potential to increase the quality of our lives.
Recently, I had the remarkable opportunity to interview Dr. Strassman in his New Mexico home. He made it clear that although he is enthusiastic about the benefits, these drugs can be dangerous, and passionately advocated for more public education about experimentation. If abused, psychedelics can cause erratic behavior with severe consequences. Take, for example, a friend of Strassman’s who, after ingesting a copious amount of psychedelics, became so convinced of his supernatural ability to fly that he jumped off the top of a building and fell to his death. Stories like this are far and few from the typical psychedelic experience, yet Strassman uses this anecdote as a cautionary tale.
In the same vein, here are Dr. Strassman’s three essential rules to psychedelic use:
1. Know your source and your dose
Newbies should start with a low dose, and gradually increase their dosage over time. “You wouldn’t want to take a huge dose especially if you’re inexperienced,” Strassman stresses. In terms of mushrooms, this would depend upon the purity, strain, and strength. “Usually, five grams of dried mushrooms of average strength is considered a heroic, huge dose. So perhaps you might want to start with half a gram or one gram and you’ll see how that goes,” he advises.
2. Be in the right mental state
Your state of mind has a massive influence on your hallucinogenic experience. This is considered “the set,” which is the sum of your emotional and physical health, your diet, your sleep, and your overall mood. An average amount of stress might not make a huge difference, but if you’re going through a significantly negative life event, then it might not be the right time for you to embark on this kind of journey.
3. Control the Setting
The last part of what Strassman refers to as “the tripod” is the setting. This encompasses both the physical environment where you’re taking the drug and the people who are joining your experience. “Usually, if you want the best effects and the most controlled environment, you would want to begin your traveling, maybe, in a comfortable room with friends.” Strassman also highly recommends having someone nearby who is experienced with psychedelics. This person would ideally be sober. For example, if you get anxious, this person would hold your hand and talk to you.
If you seek an introspective experience, this might involve laying on a bed, listening to music through headphones, and keeping your eyes closed with eyeshades. If you seek a more externally oriented trip, choose a place of natural beauty where you may interact with a variety of stimuli. This path is often chosen to create a deep, emotional appreciation for nature.
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