MORE DETAILS COMING SOON!

October 19-20, 2024 | Psychedelic INSIGHTS

WELCOME TO PSYCHEDELIC INSIGHTS HOSTED BY THE

LOS ANGELES MEDICINAL PSYCHEDELICS SOCIETY (LAMPS)!

Announcing Psychedelic INSIGHTS—Investigating the Nexus of Spirituality, Identity, Gnosis, Healing, Transcendence, and Science—October 19-20 at UCLA!

If you enjoyed (or are sorry that you missed) our highly praised LAPSS (Los Angeles Psychedelic Science Symposium) at UCLA in 2018, and/or our online LAMPSS (Los Angeles Medicinal Psychedelic Society Symposium) on May 21-23, 2021, we announce our upcoming collective discussion, which will explore both the light and dark sides of the psychedelic movement via round-table discussions covering the influence of psychedelics on spirituality, mental and physical health, culture, accessibility/equity, death and the dying process, the sense of “reality,” and wisdom with diverse groups of experts!

Decades after the shutdown and demonization of psychedelic medicines initiated by the Nixon administration in 1970, research into the potential benefits of these medicines finally resumed in 1990, leading to the emergence of a psychedelic renaissance. Over the ensuing three decades, evidence has mounted that psychedelics such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, ibogaine/iboga, ketamine, MDMA, cannabis, and others hold promising potential for treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance use disorders, and other heretofore treatment-resistant mental health conditions.

Public and media emphasis on the positive aspects of psychedelic medicines, supported by the encouraging results of this research, has been a necessary and crucial approach toward counteracting the stigma and hysteria around these substances—a legacy of inaccurate information and fear tactics promulgated by the War on Drugs and exacerbated by a small number of highly-sensationalized tragedies involving psychedelic use or misuse.

Now, with the renaissance continuing to gather steam (as evidenced and bolstered by recent ballot measure results), it is important to also examine and address the emerging negative and controversial aspects of the movement. Careful inquiry into the movement’s shadow is necessary to balance the quasi-utopian picture painted by many psychedelic enthusiasts. Failure to address these darker facets could threaten the pace of greater acceptance, which we would all like to see accelerated, not slowed or short-circuited. It therefore behooves us to take a sober look at these darker issues and address them openly and comprehensively.

The purpose of this symposium will be to create space for deep dives into both the positive aspects of what is happening in the movement, as well as the more controversial and uncomfortable areas, platforming voices from diverse and opposing points of view. In doing this, we hope to foster a balanced and accurate picture of the potential of psychedelic medicines and explore how they can best be protected and advanced. By steering directly into the heart of controversy and hearing from disparate voices, we seek collaborative and creative solutions to the problems and schisms that, if left unsolved, could threaten the health of this burgeoning movement.

Psychedelics and Spirituality

  • How have psychedelics transformed your understanding of spirituality and your relationship with the God/Universe/Cosmos?

  • What is Spiritual Bypassing and how can psychedelic medicines play a role for better or worse?

  • How do the experiences of psychedelics differ among Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, and other spiritual traditions? What common threads unite them?

  • What is the dark side of psychedelics and spirituality? How can we best deal with bad players in the field?

  • What are the promises and pitfalls associated with psychedelic churches, temples, etc.?

  • What valuable insights can we gain from indigenous healers and their cultural practices and how can that be helpful to our culture?

  • How is the “New Age” movement influencing the psychedelic renaissance, for better or worse?

Psychedelics and Legality/Accessibility/Equity

  • What strategies can make psychedelic therapies accessible to people with lower incomes or limited insurance coverage?

  • How can we encourage and foster involvement from underserved and underrepresented communities?

  • What ethical challenges arise with the sustainability, commodification, and appropriation of psychedelic medicines, and how can we address them?

  • What are the latest global trends in psychedelic legality and regulation?

  • How can we guide the modern psychedelic movement to avoid repeating the mistakes of the 1960s?

  • How can psychedelics foster the development of a more diverse and equitable psychedelic culture?

  • How can those suffering with PTSD access psychedelic-assisted therapy despite current legal restrictions?

  • Should there be standardized qualifications and training for psychedelic facilitators? How can we implement and regulate these standards?

  • How should the community address unethical practices, such as sexual misconduct, by facilitators both above ground and in the underground movement? What should a path to redemption look like?

  • What resources should be made available to victims of abuse by psychotherapists, facilitators, etc?

  • What resources should be available to victims of abuse by psychedelic therapists or facilitators, and how can they seek repair and support?

Psychedelics and Mental Health

  • How can psychedelics be used to treat PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders?

  • How can these medicines be used to help alleviate addictions and other maladaptive/self-destructive behaviors?

  • How can psychedelics inspire creativity, motivation, self-discovery and personal transformation?

  • What is the importance of integration in the psychedelic space, and how does it contribute to lasting healing?

  • Are psychedelics suitable for everyone? What are the contraindications, and how can we avoid treating them as a cure-all?

  • What diverse views exist regarding mental health, illness, healing, and psychedelics across different cultures? How could understanding these perspectives deepen our self-awareness and lead to positive shifts in how we care for ourselves and others? What changes might result from this understanding, and how can we begin to implement them?

  • What role does love play in the healing process with psychedelic medicines?

Psychedelics and Physical Health

  • What have we learned about the interplay between physical and mental health, and how can psychedelics help restore balance? 

  • How can psychedelics help alleviate symptoms of chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and cognitive decline?

  • What potential do psychedelics have for enhancing physical performance in sports, dance, and other activities as well as cognitive performance like studying?

  • What training should healthcare professionals receive before administering psychedelic treatments, and should personal experience with the medicines be required?

  • What are the risks of using psychedelics in a clinical setting?

  • How are psychedelics used in other cultures to promote physical health, and what can we learn from these practices?

  • What roles do microdosing and biohacking play in optimizing health with psychedelics?

  • How can psychedelics deepen our understanding and connection to our human sexuality?

Psychedelics and the Dying Process

  • How can psychedelics ease anxiety and fear in the face of death? What does research show?

  • How do psychedelics assist in finding meaning, forgiveness, gratitude, and love at the end of life?

  • How do end-of-life doulas integrate psychedelics into their work, and what case studies can we learn from?

  • What should be included in the curriculum for training end-of-life doulas in the use of psychedelics?

  • What qualities make a good end-of-life doula, and what should one look for or avoid when choosing to work with one? Which traits should be avoided?

  • How do psychedelics alter one’s perception of death and the afterlife? What insights have emerged about life after death and reincarnation?

Psychedelics and Culture

  • How have raves and similar gatherings influenced culture in positive and negative ways?

  • How do music, art, and movement shape and enhance the psychedelic experience?

  • What are the positive and negative impacts of the recreational use of these substances on both individuals and society?

  • What are some promising developments and concerning trends emerging in society due to the growing prevalence of psychedelic use?

  • What lessons can we draw from indigenous cultures?

  • How might widespread availability of psychedelics, like DMT vape pens, impact society and culture?

  • What is queer medicine, and how does it intersect with the psychedelic movement to influence culture?

Psychedelics and “Reality”

  • What constitutes "Reality," and can it truly be deemed as "real"?

  • Is there an objective reality, or are our experiences entirely subjective?

  • How can psychedelics permanently alter one’s sense of reality?

  • What is the nature of the entities encountered in psychedelic spaces?

  • Why do some intense psychedelic experiences lead to mystical awakenings while others result in psychotic breaks?

  • If madness is a break from consensual reality, why is one type of reality pathologized while another is not? Who gets to decide?

Integrating the Conference: Turn on, Tune In, Take Over!

  • How do indigenous elders feel about the use of their traditional plant medicines by outsiders, and how can we respectfully learn from and support them?

  • How can we ensure the reverence and sanctity of these medicines?

  • How can we protect the psychedelic renaissance from becoming a greed-driven gold rush?

  • What are your biggest concerns about the current state of the psychedelic renaissance?

  • What inspires you most about the psychedelic movement and gives you hope for the future?

  • How can you contribute to illuminating the world by advocating for changes in drug policy?

Stay tuned as we will provide updates with more information as our plans unfold!

With gratitude,

The LAMPS Planning Committee