Even if the majority of the world’s citizens were to have transformative psychedelic experiences tomorrow, take up permaculture, become eco-activists, and so on, it probably wouldn’t be enough to stop the petrochemical giants from charbroiling the world. With 100 companies responsible for the bulk of global emissions, the change ultimately needs to come from the top down. Could psychedelics play a part in this? That prospect is becoming a little less far-fetched than it might seem.
The U.S. House of Representatives has just issued a report calling for research on psychedelic therapies as treatments for mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. As Melissa Lavasani, co-founder of Washington, D.C.’s Plant Medicine Coalition, has said, this is “a kind of like a smoke signal to federal agencies that people on the Hill, the House Committee specifically, are kind of curious about this subject.”
In a recent Facebook post, Plant Medicine Coalition claimed, “For the last six months, PMC has been educating members of Congress about the incredible potential of psychedelics… Any formal indication that Congress is supportive of psychedelic research is a step in the right direction and will send a signal to other parts of government that the old consensus is breaking down.”
With Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pushing for the removal of barriers to psychedelic research, and with President Biden’s son Hunter giving testimony to the curative value of Ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT, it’s not inconceivable that the tendrils of psychedelic consciousness may be starting to wrap themselves around certain branches of government.
Is it realistic to think that the folks on Capitol Hill and Pennsylvania Avenue are going to hold a big ayahuasca circle and awaken to their oneness with nature, and Republicans and Democrats will join hands and sing Matisyahu songs together as they ban fossil fuels forever?
Obviously not. But as the Psychedelic Renaissance continues to flourish, consciousness will continue to gradually expand in Washington, D.C. and to rapidly expand among entheogenic initiates everywhere.
Perhaps if enough people in both of these arenas take action against climate change, we can pull off the extinction rebellion we sorely need.
Damon Orion is a writer, journalist, musician, artist and teacher living in the mountains of Santa Cruz, California. More of his work can be found at DamonOrion.com
Leave a Reply