{"id":10751,"date":"2025-06-12T12:53:47","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:53:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/?p=7174414"},"modified":"2025-06-12T12:53:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:53:47","slug":"psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected\/","title":{"rendered":"Psychedelic renaissance may take longer than expected"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychedelicscience.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Psychedelic Science<\/a>, billed as the country\u2019s largest conference focused on mind-altering substances, is preparing to return to Denver this month, bringing with it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2025\/03\/07\/psychedelic-science-conference-coming-to-denver-announces-initial-lineup\/\">scientists, policymakers, and activists<\/a> to discuss the latest advancements in their respective fields.<\/p>\n<p>The conference <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2023\/06\/14\/psychedelic-science-colorado-convention-center-denver-tickets-events\/\">last came to the Mile High City in 2023<\/a> with unbridled optimism about the potential of drugs like psilocybin, MDMA (ecstasy), and ibogaine to treat mental health. More than 12,000 people attended to celebrate the arrival of the \u201cpsychedelic renaissance\u201d \u2014 or as Rick Doblin, founder and president of the <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies<\/a> (MAPS), rhapsodically called it in this keynote speech, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C0HR3FDXuoE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cthe psychedelic 20s.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The conference\u2019s overarching vibe signaled a new kind of future was inevitable, one where drugs emerged from the shadows of Prohibition to a warm embrace in mainstream medicine and culture.<\/p>\n<p>But just two years later, Doblin is keenly aware of how much has changed.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, MAPS was waiting for the Food and Drug Administration to review its data from decades worth of clinical trials using MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Doblin expected the treatment would get approved. Oregon and Colorado had recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2022\/11\/08\/colorado-results-prop-122-legalizing-psilocybin-psilocin-mushrooms\/\">legalized psychedelic-assisted therapy<\/a>, building momentum for what many people believed would be a nationwide movement.<\/p>\n<p>However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2024\/08\/09\/nx-s1-5068634\/mdma-therapy-fda-decision-ptsd-psychedelic-treatment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FDA rejected the new drug application for MDMA<\/a> and declined to make it a legal medicine. While <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/new-mexico-governor-signs-bill-to-create-psilocybin-therapy-program-legalizing-medical-use-of-the-psychedelic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New Mexico<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sltrib.com\/news\/2024\/03\/21\/psilocybin-mdma-treatments-could\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Utah<\/a> have since legalized psychedelic-assisted therapy in some form, efforts to do so in other states, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2024\/11\/06\/g-s1-33105\/massachusetts-legalize-psychedelic-drugs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Massachusetts<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marijuanamoment.net\/california-senators-kill-bill-to-create-psychedelic-therapy-pilot-program-for-veterans-and-former-first-responders\/#:~:text=Last%20year%2C%20for%20example%2C%20a,supervised%20environment%20with%20trained%20facilitators.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">California<\/a>, have failed. Additionally, researchers and the public are beginning to understand more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2025\/05\/13\/bad-trip-psychedelics-education-denver-boulder-aspen\/\">risks and harms associated with these drugs<\/a>, which have more often than not been heralded as miracle cures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think there\u2019s been a sobering,\u201d Doblin said in a recent interview with The Denver Post. And that may not be a bad thing.<\/p>\n<p>Psychedelic Science comes to the Colorado Convention Center June 16 to 20, and the theme this year is \u201cThe Integration,\u201d described in the event\u2019s promotional materials as something of a call to turn excitement into action. After all, drug reform in this respect isn\u2019t a given, even if it seemed to be just a few years ago.<\/p>\n<p>There are practical challenges to weaving psychedelic-assisted modalities into modern medicine and in aligning public policy with broader cultural acceptance. Perhaps the most obvious friction point is the fact that psychedelics are still illegal in the eyes of the federal government, despite states like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2025\/03\/05\/colorado-psilocybin-therapy-healing-centers-denver-lakewood-arvada\/\">Colorado moving to make them more accessible<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Doblin said acknowledging those realities and addressing the critics will be key to finding solutions on how to move forward. Still, he\u2019s hopeful because although there have been setbacks, the genie is out of the bottle, so to speak.<\/p>\n<p>Research into psychedelics\u2019 potential medical applications continues, <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/press-room\/to-improve-care-for-veterans-va-to-fund-studies-on-new-therapies-for-treating-mental-health-conditions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">including at federal agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. After two years of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2024\/08\/16\/colorado-natural-medicine-regulations-psilocybin-mushrooms\/\">drafting policy<\/a>, Colorado\u2019s psilocybin therapy industry is on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2025\/04\/01\/first-psilocybin-healing-center-origin-psychedelic-therapy-denver-colorado\/\">precipice of its official roll out<\/a>. And psychedelics appear to be a rare bipartisan issue in an increasingly divided political climate.<\/p>\n<p>All that is happening while <a href=\"https:\/\/lykospbc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lykos Therapeutics<\/a>, a research company founded by MAPS, takes a step back from being at the helm of the movement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter the defeat at the FDA\u2026 what I realized is Lykos could completely disappear and this movement and the ecosystem was moving forward regardless,\u201d Doblin said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of opportunity here, a lot of unmet medical need, lots and lots of evidence of benefits across all different psychedelics and all different clinical conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5726087\" class=\"wp-caption alignright size-article_inline_half\"><img class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected.jpg\" alt=\"DENVER, CO - JUNE 21: Jonathan Clark, a posture therapist, does a session at the roXiva Light Therapy booth at the MAPS conference at the Colorado Convention Center on June 21, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The company, roXiva, says their devices &quot;combine stroboscopic white light with sound to induce a relaxed or inspired state of mind. It is sometimes referred to as a hypnagogic light machine or audio-visual brainwave entrainment.&quot; Their website says that the sessions are &quot;expertly crafted to guide the brain in following external sources of rhythm, leveraging its natural ability to synchronize.&quot; It uses light sound and vibrations to duplicate the effects of psychedlelics without taking the drugs. Sessions offered were 10 minutes up to 90 minutes. The event was presented by MAPS, or Multidisciplinary Associatoin For Psychedelic Studies. The event's website said the conference &quot;promotes the future of psychedelic medicine through informative talks, valuable workshops, exciting events, and marketplace opportunities.&quot; There were over 300 speakers and dozens of companies displaying their products inside the Convention Center. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson\/The Denver Post)\" width=\"8256\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"5726087\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected.jpg 620w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TDP-L-PSYCHEDELICS-2087.jpg?fit=310%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 310w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jonathan Clark, a posture therapist, does a session at the roXiva Light Therapy booth at the MAPS conference at the Colorado Convention Center on June 21, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The company, roXiva, says their devices \u201ccombine stroboscopic white light with sound to induce a relaxed or inspired state of mind. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson\/The Denver Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That sentiment is certainly evident looking at Psychedelic Science\u2019s programming, which features more than 500 speakers across dozens of panels and workshops. High-profile speakers include former U.S. senator Kyrsten Sinema, famed mycologist Paul Stamets, musicians Tycho, Vic Mensa, and Jim James, and NFL players Jordan Poyer, Jon Feliciano, and Robert Gallery.<\/p>\n<p>Discussions include how psychedelics may benefit communities in crisis and can be used in couple therapy; how they can address trauma and inspire creativity, among a myriad of other applications. Research being a core pillar of the event, many lectures will showcase new studies evaluating drug efficacy in treating a variety of ailments, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders, and various populations like veterans, first responders, formerly incarcerated individuals and victims of sexual violence.<\/p>\n<p>But this year, there also appears to be an effort to balance enthusiasm with talks about safety and risk, how to navigate challenging or bad trips, and \u201cthe dark side\u201d of psychedelics that has emerged alongside increased interest. Panels also plan to focus on ethics in psychedelic-assisted therapy and the \u201clessons learned\u201d from recent legislative efforts.<\/p>\n<p>The 2025 conference also puts increased emphasis on psychedelic culture with panels elevating Black and indigenous voices, alongside other minority groups like transgender individuals; discussions at the intersection of psychedelics and parenting; and numerous talks about sex and wellness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe had well over 1,500 proposals for talks at Psychedelic Science 2025, for around 400 spots,\u201d Doblin said. \u201cIt used to be that every psychedelic conference I went to, I knew everything that was being said because there wasn\u2019t that much happening. Now when I go, I love just sitting in the audience because there\u2019s so much new stuff that\u2019s being presented.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, there will an exhibit hall for vendors, companies and organizations that operate in or adjacent to the psychedelic space.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5726079\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter size-article_inline\"><img class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected-1.jpg\" alt=\"DENVER, CO - JUNE 21: Singer Michael Garfield performs at the Tea Temple in the Deep Space Interactive exhibit at the MAPS conference at the Colorado Convention Center on June 21, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. The event was presented by MAPS, or Multidisciplinary Associatoin For Psychedelic Studies. The event's website said the conference &quot;promotes the future of psychedelic medicine through informative talks, valuable workshops, exciting events, and marketplace opportunities.&quot; There were over 300 speakers and dozens of companies displaying their products inside the Convention Center. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson\/The Denver Post)\" width=\"8256\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected-1.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"5726079\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/psychedelic-renaissance-may-take-longer-than-expected-1.jpg 620w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TDP-L-PSYCHEDELICS-190.jpg?fit=780%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 780w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TDP-L-PSYCHEDELICS-190.jpg?fit=810%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 810w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TDP-L-PSYCHEDELICS-190.jpg?fit=1280%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 1280w,https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.denverpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TDP-L-PSYCHEDELICS-190.jpg?fit=1860%2C9999px&amp;ssl=1 1860w\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Singer Michael Garfield performs at the Tea Temple in the Deep Space Interactive exhibit at the MAPS conference at the Colorado Convention Center on June 21, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson\/The Denver Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Plus concerts, yoga and film<\/h4>\n<p>Psychedelic Science is unabashedly an educational event, but given Doblin expects 8,000 people will attend, the conference has also planned a robust lineup of entertainment.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"related right\"> <\/aside>\n<p>Offerings include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychedelicscience.org\/cinematheque\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a four-day film festival<\/a> showcasing thematic documentaries and short films; wellness events like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/bunny-yoga-at-great-divide-barrel-room-in-rino-arts-district-tickets-1298414756489?aff=oddtdtcreator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">yoga with bunnies<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/plants-yoga-beer-at-bierstadt-lagerhaus-denver-girls-club-ys-tickets-1300080017329?aff=oddtdtcreator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">beer<\/a>; and numerous concerts. Standouts include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axs.com\/events\/972556\/flying-lotus-reggie-watts-tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flying Lotus with Reggie Watts<\/a> at Mission Ballroom on June 17, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axs.com\/events\/950129\/tycho-tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tycho<\/a> at the Ogden Theatre on June 18, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axs.com\/events\/847019\/drive-by-truckers-deer-tick-tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Drive-By Truckers with Deer Tick<\/a> at the Ogden Theatre on June 20.<\/p>\n<p>Other socials include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenowaksociety.org\/events-1\/the-official-psychedelic-science-colorado-welcome-party-drag-speed-friending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cdrag speed friending\u201d<\/a> at Raices Brewery on June 18; a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.com\/e\/black-psychedelic-juneteenth-dinner-tickets-1359130599209?aff=oddtdtcreator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Black Psychedelic Juneteenth Dinner<\/a> at Mirus Gallery &amp; Art Bar\u00a0on June 19; and plenty of parties at Meow Wolf.<\/p>\n<p>Ancillary events put on by other organizations will also pop up throughout the Mile High City. Portal, a nonprofit that aims to destigmatize psychedelics through cultural events and activism, will have <a href=\"https:\/\/youaretheportal.com\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an 80-foot geodesic dome<\/a> set up on the Auraria Campus from June 14 to 22, where it will host music and more. The locally-based Shroomski magazine is also hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.multipass.com\/MELT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a trippy art show<\/a> at Baldoria on the Water in Lakewood on June 17.<\/p>\n<p>See a full list of happenings at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychedelicscience.org\/fun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psychedelicscience.org\/fun<\/a>. To explore the conference lineup, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychedelicscience.org\/agenda\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">psychedelicscience.org\/agenda<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.denverpost.com\/dp\/preference\">Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"media_block\"><\/div>\n<p>The psychedelics community is making a trip to Denver this month for what&#8217;s billed as the country&#8217;s largest conferences focused on mind-altering substances. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7878,6811,8122,9231,6807,376,7143,1345,2435,8454,7153,6892,7938,4995,77,9,1495,5019,7154,8147,8148,1777,1,3,7072,6923,9452,160,61,1736],"tags":[7886,6816,8125,9234,6809,2954,7144,3915,2436,8456,7155,6893,7939,4996,2655,33,5022,7156,8152,8153,4345,7073,6924,9456,2738],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10751"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10751"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10751\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}