Black & White
Yin & Yang, a beautiful dance between light and dark, how “seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world … they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.” Rick Doblin brings this idea to light in the realm of Psychedelic research very well, and his perspective is one to be shared.
To think of the F.D.A. as an evil organization, one attempting to control minds by restricting psychedelics (as I had believed), is unfair. Well… perhaps it is a belief from outdated experience, that not of my own. Within the frame of Rick Doblin’s experience, the F.D.A. has a branch who’s potential has been allocated towards the regulation of psychedelics, and thus warrants a fair amount of respect.
Speaking on The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, hosted by Duncan Trussell, Rick Doblin stressed how important it is to set aside polarizing paradigms between the government and those in the psychedelic realm. Together, with accountability from both sides, there can be great progress. In order for people to realize it, he shared a TON of information on TDTFH about on-going studies with MDMA and the future of MDMA therapy and clinics. I would go further into it, but my point is that there is actually a lot of progress, a lot of groundbreaking progress, taking place. There is a fair amount, rather, a commendable amount of cooperation between the advocates for psychedelic research and government bodies.
Doblin speaks about transcending limitations and prejudices by creating cultures for various drugs and their uses, thus creating spaces for each drug. Similar to alcohol. Part of the pressure is thus on those creating the spaces to do so mindfully and spiritually, and the government bodies being open and understanding of this. As addressed before, the government has been taking steps to do so. In other words, “a shift from fundamentalism to mysticism.” A major part of making this possible and of transcending paradigms on both sides is having people open up about their usage as it already is.
The psychedelic community is often filled with people who are earnestly working on their spiritual and mental health, and are able to make quite a bit of progress with these drugs. Speaking with some of my friends, we realized how open people are about drug usage at work, in particular psychedelics, and how this opening up leads to deeper conversations about things that really matter to us. Conversations about how we really feel, about our insecurities, about where we are in life, etc.
Hopefully, by more people opening up about why they use these drugs and how they have helped, in conjunction with research at certain institutions, the government will become more receptive towards the more psychoanalytical and medicinal side of legalization and regulation. Perhaps now, with people speaking up for the sake of mental and spiritual health, the drug culture in our country can continue to move forward for the better. With such therapeutic potential, the government may someday soon be educating the people as to why MDMA therapy may be a healthy option, thus overcoming the paradigm created by the drug war.
A beautiful balance indeed. For better or for worse (maybe for better), the obstacles in psychedelic research have made the current findings that much more significant. After many studies and independent experiences it becomes very apparent how pertinent it is to maintain the momentum of these studies and to give voice to those who either benefit from such treatment, or simply support it.
