psychedelics
Homegrown Psilocybe cubensis (Golden Teacher) mushrooms, the most popular species of 'magic' mushrooms. They contain psilocybin and psilocin, mind altering drugs used recreationally and in psychedelic therapy.

6 Psychedelic Drugs That Might Improve Mental Health

The stigma associated with psychedelic drugs has been pretty severe over the years, due in part to totally tone-deaf leaders who probably pretended to be high off oregano. But one of the biggest impediments to drug marijuana normalization has been the failed and costly war on drugs. In total, the United States has pissed away (cue Dr. Evil voice) $1 trillion on the war on drugs.

Worse yet, the war on drugs has resulted in tossing millions of innocent Americans into prison for small possession. And since race always seems to fuck up a good time, a 2022 analysis of marijuana possession arrests in Texas for the years 2017 to 2019 reported that African Americans comprised 30.2 percent of all possession arrests, yet Black people comprised only 12.9 percent of the state’s population.

But even if the entire country seems to be on track to heading back to the dark ages, marijuana and psychedelic drugs appear to be the one thing on which we can, oddly enough, agree in the 21st century. Medical marijuana is now legal in 29 states and recreational weed in nine states, meaning that our buzzkill leaders are either dipping into the magic plant themselves or are finally aware that the rest of us are.

One of the oft-overlooked aspects of the debate on legalizing drugs is the mental health benefits that come with psychedelics. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into six of these kinds of psychedelic drugs to see how they might help with a variety of psychological issues.

Cover Photo: Photograph © Jon Cartwright (Getty Images)
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