Michael Pollan on the psychedelic society

Dec 14, 2020

Michael Pollan, a renowned author known for his groundbreaking work on psychedelics, dives into the implications of Oregon's Proposition 109, which legalizes psilocybin therapy. He highlights the revolutionary potential of psilocybin in treating depression and addiction, and shares insights from researchers and therapists on its integration into mental health care. Pollan also discusses the nature of mystical experiences facilitated by psychedelics and the societal hurdles still facing their acceptance, paving the way for a transformative future in therapy.

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ANECDOTE

Bill W. and LSD

Bill W., AA's co-founder, had a belladonna-induced mystical experience leading to sobriety.
He later advocated for LSD in AA, but the board declined, opting to ban all intoxicants.

insights

INSIGHT

Desperate for New Tools

Current mental health treatments are often ineffective and have significant side effects.
Psychedelic therapy offers a potential alternative with fewer administrations and experiential healing.

insights

INSIGHT

Experiential Treatment

Psychedelic therapy is an experiential treatment, not solely pharmacological.
The mystical experience, including ego dissolution and connection to something larger, is key to its effectiveness.

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Psychedelics in Oregon: A New Era for Therapy

01:38 • 22min

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Psychedelics and Recovery

23:12 • 10min

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The Therapeutic Dimensions of Psilocybin Experience

33:17 • 4min

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Navigating Mystical Journeys: The Role of Psychedelic Therapy

36:50 • 14min

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Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Paradigm Shift

50:55 • 6min

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Psychedelics and Society: Insights and Implications

The Overstory is a sweeping and impassioned work of environmental fiction that follows the lives of nine individuals whose paths are intertwined by their connections to trees. The novel is structured in four parts – 'Roots', 'Trunk', 'Crown', and 'Seeds' – mirroring the parts of a tree. It delves into themes of ecology, climate change, and the interconnectedness of trees and humans, using a blend of science, history, and magical realism. The book advocates for the protection of trees and the natural world, posing critical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment and the long-term consequences of human actions.

How to Change Your Mind

What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

Michael Pollan

In this book, Michael Pollan delves into the history of psychedelic drugs, from their rise in the 1960s to their current resurgence in medical research. He combines historical and scientific analysis with personal narratives of his own experiences with psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin. The book explores how these substances are being used to treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, and discusses their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and consciousness. Pollan's work is a blend of science, memoir, and travel writing, offering a nuanced and engaging look at the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of psychedelics.

Invention of Nature

Giovanni Aloi

Andrea Wulf's "Invention of Nature" is a biography of Alexander von Humboldt, a Prussian polymath who made significant contributions to various scientific fields. The book details Humboldt's expeditions and his groundbreaking work in biogeography, geology, and climatology. Wulf's narrative highlights Humboldt's influence on scientific thought and his impact on the development of environmentalism. The book explores Humboldt's personal life and his relationships with other prominent scientists of his time. "Invention of Nature" offers a fascinating glimpse into the life and work of a remarkable figure who shaped our understanding of the natural world.

Entangled Life

How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures

Merlin Sheldrake

In 'Entangled Life,' Merlin Sheldrake delves into the fascinating world of fungi, discussing their roles in decomposition, fermentation, nutrient distribution, and the production of psilocybin. The book examines how fungi interact with plants and animals, including their ability to manipulate insect behavior and form vast underground networks known as the 'Wood Wide Web.' Sheldrake also explores the historical and modern uses of fungi, from food and medicine to their potential in environmental remediation. The book is both a scientific exploration and a personal account, challenging traditional concepts of intelligence and individuality and offering a new perspective on the interconnectedness of life.

On November 3, as the country fixated on the incoming presidential election results, voters in Oregon approved a seemingly innocuous ballot measure with revolutionary potential. Proposition 109, which passed with 56 percent of the vote (the same margin by which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in the state), legalizes the use of psilocybin, the main psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, in supervised therapeutic settings.

Multiple studies have found that use of psilocybin in a medical context has the power to cure depression, addiction, and anxiety at rates that no existing drug or therapy can boast (although these results still need to be replicated with larger sample sizes before drawing definitive conclusions). Scores of renowned scholars, artists, and entrepreneurs talk about their use of psychedelic drugs as one of the most important experiences of their entire lives. The details of how the Oregon initiative will be implemented still need to be worked out, but the prospect of making these drugs widely available in a therapeutic context could have transformative impacts on American mental health care and, perhaps, on our culture writ large.

There isn’t anyone I’d rather discuss this new law and its implications with than Michael Pollan. Pollan is the author of dozens of landmark books, but his most recent, How To Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, is the best exploration of the transformative therapeutic potential of psychedelics to date.

My first conversation with Pollan in 2018 was one of my favorites of all time on the show, and this one didn’t disappoint either. We discuss how Pollan’s work inspired the Oregon ballot initiative, what Proposition 109 actually does and the challenges it will face, the lost history of psychedelics being used as a therapeutic tool in the 1950s, why the mental health profession in America is so excited about the revolutionary possibilities of psychedelic treatment, why the “noetic experience” induced by psychedelics has such incredible healing potential, whether widespread psychedelic use would create massive population-level changes in society, and much more.

References:

My first conversation with Pollan

Recent Johns Hopkins study on psychedelics and depression

"What the psychedelic drug ayahuasca showed me about my life" by Sean Illing

Book recommendations:

The Overstory by Richard Powers

The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Credits:

Producer/Audio engineer - Jeff Geld

Researcher - Roge Karma

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