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Psychedelic drugs have been an enduring source of fascination in science and popular culture, never more so than during the so-called ‘psychedelic renaissance’ of recent years. But this resurgence of interest, and related issues around policy and law, has been very much focused on the potential medical and therapeutic uses of psychedelics.

But while the justifiable excitement around therapeutic use dominates the public discourse, it is use that takes place outside of formal clinical settings that constitutes the overwhelming majority of psychedelic drug consumption. Whether for personal exploration and development, or more simply for recreation, Transform has long felt that this non-medical has been marginalised and neglected in the policy debate - a gap we are seeking to fill with a new report.

Now, in the wake of the reforms around non-medical cannabis use unfolding on every continent, political space is opening up to explore regulatory options for other drugs. As the first tentative psychedelic reforms are already beginning in some US jurisdictions, we knew it was important to produce the first-ever guide outlining key principles and practice for legally regulating psychedelics for non-medical use.

This new guide will inform emerging policy debates at this critical moment of change and policy evolution, just as our previous work has already done. Transform has spent over two decades helping to show how cannabis can be responsibly legalised and regulated. Governments from around the world, including Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Jamaica, Malta and Mexico have all drawn on our expertise. More recently we have been working actively with Colombian policy makers developing a bill tabled in the Senate on how to regulate coca and cocaine, and with Dutch policy makers on proposals for the regulation of MDMA. We are already shaping the future of drug regulation.

But what about psychedelics?

In this new report we are asking: How do we minimise the risks and maximise the benefits of psychedelics? How do we prevent over commercialisation, and embed social justice and human rights principles in emerging markets and regulatory systems? How would psychedelic drugs be produced and made available in a legally regulated space? From foraging magic mushrooms to licenced sales of LSD - these are some of the ideas we will be exploring and making practical, evidence-based proposals on.

This guide will be the first of its kind and will help inform the people who make policies and the advocates. If you support this work please do donate whatever you can afford - we receive no industry or government funding and simply cannot do this work with your help.

We need £10,000 to produce, publish and distribute this ground-breaking publication to the people who are making decisions around the world. With a donation of £30 or more, you will receive an early copy of the guide in Spring. With a donation of £50 or more, your name will be printed in the guide as one of our donors.

As the ‘psychedelic renaissance’ gathers pace, please support us so we can stay one step ahead.

Please Donate today


Header Image By Arp - This image is Image Number 6514 at Mushroom Observer, a source for mycological images., CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/...