🫠 Ask a Guide Anything

Welcome to Tricycle Day. We're the psychedelics newsletter that would never judge a book by its cover. We peep those reviews, though. 🤨

Now that psychedelic therapy is legal in Oregon and Colorado (yay progress!), we’re afraid you have a new dilemma. Do you a) work with a licensed facilitator in a regulated setting, or b) stick with an underground guide who’s been holding space for decades?

Ah, the paradox of choice. See, licensed doesn't automatically mean better, and underground doesn’t imply sketchy.

So for today’s newsletter, we asked our network of practitioners (from both sides of the line): What are the trade-offs between working with a licensed facilitator versus an underground guide?

Here's how they broke it down.

“I felt safe and held. The center was first rate, beautiful, comfortable and everyone was so friendly and supportive.”

That's what clients say about Chariot, the only psilocybin center operating in both Oregon and Colorado. (Overachievers.)

Since opening in Portland in 2023, they've served well over 1,000 clients without once wavering on their commitment to safety and ethics. Turns out when you prioritize doing things right, people notice.

No wonder they're one of the most trusted providers in legal psilocybin care.

The fact of the matter is licensing provides accountability that the underground can't match. Clayton Ickes explains that licensed facilitators “have gone through a process of training and consultation which guarantees they have at least some knowledge and experience.” More importantly, they “can also be held accountable. Underground guides typically do not have any system to which violations of ethics or boundaries can be reported.”

Amy Charlesworth adds that in the regulated model, “the psilocybin itself is also produced and handled under licensed conditions and generally subject to standardized testing and quality controls.” Wallace Murray points to “formal screening, medical oversight and emergency planning, clear consent/documentation, complaints pathways, and reduced legal risk.”

But Jessica Eden cautions that “rules do not necessarily equal safety.” She says “a facilitator who has their own ongoing relationship with psychedelics and does their own integration work has far more understanding and insight to support the client” than someone fresh out of a training program, regardless of their license.

There’s more to the equation than safety, of course. Summer MacCool frames it as choosing "between safety and structure versus freedom and tradition.” Underground guides, she says, “often bring deep ancestral wisdom or spiritual lineage, offering a more intuitive, heart-centered approach.”

Angela Balboa agrees that underground practitioners might “bring in additional ritualistic elements, spiritual practices, or shamanic elements that support them in their process.” Ultimately, she considers the choice “a personal preference of intention and belief systems.” Wallace adds that the “ceremony or community-style container” popular in the underground “can feel more personal and relational.”

But there are practical trade-offs beyond philosophy. Kari Roe-LaFramboise explains that regulated models “cost the providers a great deal to participate, so they need to pass on the costs to the clients,” which can price some people out entirely. And Jessica notes that a legal psilocybin therapy requires paying “out of pocket for mushrooms, at a rate that is approximately 10x that of the underground market.”

Here’s one thing everyone agreed on. Connection matters more than credentials. Clara Mackinlay says it plainly: “It's less about the title and more about the person. Do you feel safe with them? Can they truly contain you? And do you trust yourself?”

Avery Collura echoes the importance of fit: “What matters most isn't the label. It's whether the person understands trauma, respects your autonomy, and knows how to stay grounded when things get intense.” And Kelly Lunde highlights a non-obvious benefit of the above-ground world. Licensed facilitators are connected through a network where they can “refer out clients when someone has a special case.”

Bradley Cooke recommends doing your homework: “Learn as much as possible about someone before committing to a particular facilitator or guide. Invite them for a coffee or lunch to really learn what they're like.” Worst case scenario, you get a microdose of human connection, which can be healing in an of itself.

Pura Vida Collective's Jan 31 - Feb 7 retreat offers 5 medicine ceremonies in 8 days, but you choose what's aligned for you at each step. Their trauma-informed, integrative container is designed to help you move from fear to freedom.

Pretty telling that both “sides” agree more than they disagree, huh.

We must be pretty close to the balanced truth here. And these guides must be genuinely looking out for your best interest, not serving their own agenda. (That’s exactly what you want from a facilitator, btw.) So bravo to them for that.

Just a couple more factors to throw into the mix. Legal psilocybin therapy only exists in Oregon and Colorado (so far), which means travel, lodging, and time off work for most people. And it's psilocybin only (again, so far), so if you're called to other psychedelic or plant medicines, you're still in unregulated territory.

We should also point out many underground guides are licensed professionals. They’re licensed therapists, social workers, nurses, etc. risking their hard-earned credentials to do this work because law hasn’t caught up to the science. In some ways, they have even more on the line.

Final thought: At the risk of sounding preachy, there’s literally no good reason to do something that makes you feel unsafe. Now you do you. We’re all adults here.

Reply to this email to shoot your shot. If it’s a juicy one, we may select it for a future issue.

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here.

DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.