Elon Musk, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of our time, has said that while he isn’t interested in taking mind-altering drugs now, he thinks “people should be open to psychedelics.”
Elon Musk is all for legalizing psychedelics to help expand human consciousness.
“I think, generally, people should be open to psychedelics,” Musk said. “A lot of people making laws are kind of from a different era, so I think, as the new generation gets into political power, we will see greater receptivity to the benefits of psychedelics.”
Elon Musk
Whether we like it or not, a new wave of psychedelic acceptance may be on the horizon
the federal government has taken a stand on psychedelic substances and stated that it will not prosecute individuals in states where psychoactive substances are legal.
That’s what Elon Musk, one of the richest men today, has to say when answering Marc Andreessen
Psychedelics Effectiveness
there has been talk about psychedelics and how helpful they can be in the treatment of addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression, but top research institutes around the world still carry out so much research on their effectiveness.
tech giant Elon Musk on Twitter was recently involved in a conversation that involved psychedelics and contributed to a comment stating that “psychedelics and MDMA
(methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine) can make a real difference in mental health, especially for extreme depression and PTSD.
We should take this seriously”. Musk replied.
Cybin’s CEO Doug Drysdale made another comment on the 2.5 trillion dollar cost of mental health and the pharmacoeconomic impact these psychedelics could have.
This is not the first time the Tesla billionaire has talked about psychedelics as he joins a long list of top celebrities to talk about these supplements
Types of Psychedelics
1. Tabernanthe Iboga
one of the most popular psychedelics is ibogaine, a supplement extracted from the iboga plant.
Tabernanthe iboga is a shrub native to central and West Africa that is traditionally used in rites of passage and healing.
Its main alkaloid is ibogaine, which has been used since 1960s for the treatment of addictions.
Iboga is effective in reducing addiction severity, eliminating the withdrawal syndrome associated with opioid use, and reducing the compulsive desire to consume a wide variety of drugs.
The iboga experience can facilitate a deep review of one’s personal history and current situation, as well as modification of behavior and one’s perceived role in family and society.
The root bark of the iboga plant has played a fundamental role in the rites of passage and healing ceremonies of many tropical African cultures
the plant is used in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), and especially in Gabon.
Etymologically, “Bwiti” is roughly translated as “ancestor” or “dead”, but may originate from the word “Mbouiti”, the accurate name for the pygmy people located between Gabon and Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo).
Traditionally, iboga is used in Bwiti adolescent rites of passage or healing ceremonies separately.
The ritual surrounding iboga lasts five days and as the individual undergoes a process of rebirth, carefully guided by the community through the performance of a series of rituals in which many people take part;
a symbolic death of an adolescent or evil gives way to the birth of an adult or healthy person. Other psychedelics include.
2. Salvia
Also called diviner’s or seer’s sage but commonly referred to as salvia, Salvia Divinorum is a plant in the mint family.
- Cultivated in Mexico
- Treat anemia, rheumatism, head or stomach aches, and diarrhea. It has also been used to relieve digestion, menstrual cramps, and eczema.
- Leaves can be ingested, chewed, extracted, or smoked.
- Salvinorin A, the psychoactive ingredient, may induce body warmth, hallucinogenic or dissociative states, memory recollection, visions of geometric shapes or dream-like landscapes, spiritual experiences, changes in perception and mood, and create sensations of pressure, floating, merging with objects, and being pulled, twisted, or flipped.
3. Yopo
- Grown in the Caribbean region and South America, it was traditionally used by indigenous peoples of the Brazilian and Caribbean Amazon for over 4,000 years. The Piaroa tribes of Venezuela would use yopo to forecast crop harvest, enemies, and other cultural matters, and treat sickness.
- can be chewed, ingested, or snuffed through the nostrils
- Feelings include a deep internal meditation in which they see their true selves, go on interstellar trips, or have visions of mandalas, crosses, or the jungle. The trip typically lasts 45 minutes, followed by a sense of peace and a willingness to share meaningful conversations.
4. Peyote
- used by indigenous Native American and Mexican groups for healing.
- The active ingredient in peyote is a psychedelic compound called mescaline which may induce nausea, vomiting, increased body temperature, hallucinations, impaired motor function, euphoria, and anxiety. Effects are felt two hours after consumption and can last up to 12 hours.
- Peyote has been used to treat fevers, joint pain, fractures, paralysis, and skin & snakebite wounds.
5. Ayahuasca
- Ayahuasca induces visual, audial, and emotional hallucinations. Mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual effects are felt as soon as 30 minutes and up to eight hours after consumption.
- Users report treating immune diseases, chronic fatigue, cancer, trauma, grief, alcohol or smoking addictions, sleep disorders, and other terminal illnesses.
- Ayahuasca is typically offered as part of a ceremony in Amazonian countries such as Peru.
Legality of psychedelics
It is worth noting most of these psychedelics are illegal in the United States, like ibogaine, which is a Schedule 1 substance, whereas, in countries like Mexico, South Africa, and New Zealand, this psychedelic is being used to treat diseases like addiction, PTSD, and depression.
Despite this classification by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, researchers have found that psychedelics possess great therapeutic potential for treating addiction, PTSD, and depression.
