2021
Several more U.S. cities and states decriminalized psychedelics and legalized cannabis, the ongoing war over psychedelic industry patents, a slew of new psychedelic studies, a record-breaking number of new psychedelic research centers, the FDA and CDC warn of potential dangers involving delta-8 THC, new at-home drug checking technology, sexual abuse in psychedelic therapy, the infamous QAnon Shaman, progress on the Elijah McClain case, and an aptly-named attempt to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with a “Joints for Jabs” program.
2020
The latest psychedelic research, a slew of drug policy reform wins, the emerging psychedelic industry, how the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything, highlighting the problems with the drug war via racial justice protests, the compassionate release of two legendary LSD chemists, new evidence of ancient psychedelic use, and the creation of a new psychedelic holiday.
2019
A new “vaping-associated lung injury” (VALI) attacked America, the world’s first psychedelic research centers opened up, magic mushrooms spurred a psychedelic decriminalization movement, companies started trying to make trip-free psychedelics, MDMA became closer to receiving FDA approval, esketamine earned a “breakthrough therapy” designation, 5-MeO-DMT splashed onto the scene with plenty of controversy, and the psychedelic community lost three beloved elders.
2018
Cannabis research grew exponentially and marijuana laws changed rapidly, the world celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first acid trip, a magic mushroom industry began to take shape, the MAPS Phase 2 MDMA studies were completed, a study found DMT closely models the near-death experience, researchers gave ayahuasca to monkeys to treat their depression, and the FDA monitored social media for drug abuse trends.
2017
Marijuana prohibition turned 80, several new psychedelic documentaries were released, a mainstream microdosing book hit the shelves, a study found magic mushrooms are the safest recreational drug, the FDA designated MDMA as a “breakthrough therapy”, the world caught on to iboga’s ability to treat drug addiction, a synthetic cannabinoid epidemic started spreading, and researchers gave psychedelics to religious leaders to get a better understanding of mystical experiences.
2016
The FDA approved Phase 3 trials for MDMA research, the world’s first LSD brain imaging study broke new ground, cannabis research studies were published left and right, the global ayahuasca community suffered from a tragic event, and a report found that drugs bought on the dark web have higher levels of purity.
2015
Microdosing was covered widely by mainstream news outlets, Russia banned all of Reddit over a single magic mushroom thread, the alleged founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace received two life sentences, the DEA had a rough and controversial year, several groundbreaking cannabis drug policy efforts succeeded, and plenty of celebrities talked about psychedelics.