This Week in Psychedelics 🫠

Welcome to Tricycle Day. Our newsletter delivers more info downloads than an ayahuasca ceremony. And you don’t even have to purge! 🤢

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Let’s jump in. 👇

1. US senators reintroduced a bill to accelerate psychedelic research and compassionate use

Here’s a fun fact:

When it looks like a new drug could dramatically improve the standard of care for a serious condition, the FDA has the power to deem it a “Breakthrough Therapy.” That designation puts the drug on the fast track, so that patients can access it sooner. 🙌

Now, a not-so-fun fact:

Under current law, the exact same drug can also be listed as a Schedule I controlled substance. That classification creates unnecessary obstacles that delay or prevent researchers from studying the drugs and patients in urgent need from receiving them. 💩

In other words, while the FDA is calling for a miracle, the DEA can throw their blinders on and claim there’s “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” And that, my friends, is exactly what’s happening with MDMA and psilocybin.

Makes about as much sense as a hall of mirrors on salvia if you ask us. 🤡

But this week, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) filed the Breakthrough Therapies Act to help the government get out of its own way.

Under the proposed bill, a Schedule I drug would automatically be relisted as Schedule II if either of these conditions are met:

• It receives breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA

• It qualifies for a waiver under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act

MDMA and psilocybin both earned breakthrough status years ago. If this bipartisan legislation passes, more people will be able to access lifesaving treatments for PTSD and treatment-resistant depression before their time is up.

2. Small Pharma dropped unexpected findings from its Phase 2a DMT trial

Less than 2 months ago, Small Pharma shared topline results from the ongoing trial of SPL026, its intravenous DMT formulation for Major Depressive Disorder. This week, they’re back with more positive data.

In January, we relayed the message. The Phase 2a trial had met its primary endpoint with a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in depression symptoms. ✅

Now here’s where things get interesting…

Small Pharma’s latest announcement doesn’t just back up those initial results with more data cuts. They also measured participants’ anxiety and overall wellbeing. And they found that a single dose of SPL026 with supportive therapy improved scores for both.

That means SPL026 might have another indication in its future. We could see Small Pharma’s DMT treatment eventually get approved for depression and anxiety.

Never seen the FDA approve a drug for “wellbeing” before, but hey we wouldn’t complain.

3. The first batch of state-licensed psilocybin facilitators graduated in Oregon

Right after the shocking collapse of Synthesis Institute last week, a different group of would-be psilocybin facilitators had much better luck.

InnerTrek, another training provider approved and licensed by the Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education, graduated its first 100 students over the weekend.

They’re not out of the woods yet, though. Literally, the ceremony took place at InnerTrek’s forest retreat center. Maybe they’re home by now, idk. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Before they can practice legally, the grads still have to apply for a license from the state health authority. 🤞

Imagine…

• Spending $8k and 6 months of your life on intensive training

• Narrowly dodging an industry-shaking rugpull

• Being part of a historic moment in psilocybin history

… only to be denied your state application.

4. 95% of psilocybin and LSD users said self-treatment changed their lives

Most of the evidence we have for psychedelics and mental health comes from carefully controlled clinical trials. But what about the thousands of people who are tripping at home with no medical supervision?

A new study, based on survey responses from over 3,000 people about their personal drug use, found that psychedelics almost universally led to remarkable life changes.

• 95% said at least one aspect of their lives changed, across mood, empathy, identity, and other outcomes

• 64% saw positive effects within 24 hours of the trip

• 46% said positive effects lasted longer than a month

• 18% said the benefits lasted at least 6 months

It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, though.

• 23% reported negative effects

• The most commonly reported were “mental confusion, memory problems, or racing thoughts” and “feeling disconnected from the world around you”

• 1% had to seek emergency medical treatment

The researchers noticed that negative outcomes were more likely with younger trippers, intense experiences, and LSD use. So if you’re going to trip at home, know the risks and be safe!

5. Sintalica Bioscience created its own psychedelics for neuroinflammation

Canadian drug discovery company, Sintalica Bioscience, is entering the psychedelics game. But they’re playing it their own way.

While everyone else is focused on mental health, Sintalica is developing novel psychedelic molecules without the hallucinations to treat neurodegenerative disease. We’re talking:

• Chronic pain from spinal cord injury

• Fibromyalgia

• Inflammation

Look. Here at Tricycle Day, we’re firmly in the camp that believes that the subjective experiences we have on psychedelics (the trips) are a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to healing the mind.

But for ailments of body? It shouldn’t take kaleidoscopic visuals or deep introspection to fix your back ache, right?

This week, Sintalica announced the successful synthesis of new non-hallucinogenic psychedelic molecules with enhanced anti-inflammatory properties.

Sintalica execs, if you’re reading this, we have an idea for your marketing department… a Sintalica x Metallica collab. Make it happen.

[Bonus] A bunch of states powered through psychedelic legislation

This week, psychedelic policy reform moved forward in Hawaii, Missouri, Washington, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Nevada, Texas, and greater Detroit (yeah, we know Detroit isn’t a state). That’s a lot of bills. 😳

• This psychoactive plant could save lives—and everyone wants to cash in [National Geographic]

• Psychedelic sound: Can binaural beats get you high? [Discover Magazine]

• For Canadian patients, therapeutic psychedelics beset by red tape [Undark]

• Do psychedelics demand an innovative approach to patents? [Lucid News]

• The DEA is playing God with psychedelic churches [DoubleBlind]

• Deepak Chopra and the New Psych Revolution [The Austin Chronicle]

Free Psychedelic Summit at UC Davis — If you’re skeptical of a newsletter dressing psychedelic science up with memes... fine. 🥲 You should hear it straight from the scientists then.

On March 23, national experts and leading researchers on psychedelics will be hosting a day-long summit on topics ranging from microdosing to the future of psychedelic neurotherapeutics. Attend in person or virtually. Either way, it’s free.

How to Change Your Mind — Chances are you’ve at least heard of Michael Pollan’s #1 New York Times bestseller. But did you know Mikey P teamed up with Netflix to create a docuseries of the same name?

Broken into 4 episodes on LSD, mescaline, MDMA, and psilocybin, the series explores how each substance has been used throughout history as a sacrament, and in modern day as a treatment. Whether you made it through the book or not (promise, we won’t tell 🤐), this one deserves a spot on your streaming queue.

Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit — Ever wanted to try your hand at fungiculture? These grow-your-own-mushroom kits are fun, foolproof, and kid friendly (no psilocybin for you, little Timmy).

The best part? They’re 100% guaranteed to grow, or Back to the Roots will send you a replacement kit.

What was your first experience with psychedelics like? Did you always feel the same way about them as you do now?

At 16, I had my first psychedelic experience with a macro dose of acid, which confirmed my belief in the quantum field and the interconnectedness of everything. That trip also affirmed a dream I had when I was 8 years old that really terrified me because it conflicted with my religious upbringing.

When I had my first psychedelic experience, it really confirmed this inner knowing that I came here as a soul. It allowed me to let go of fear, move away from religion, question everything, and take control of my own life. Seeing beyond the veil of reality and understanding that we are all energy and consciousness in action helped me to become rebellious, which is why my brand is called Rebellious Reinvention.

Looking back, I didn't fully appreciate the significance of that first acid trip until a more recent one. At 16, I just thought it was a fun experience, but it really cemented who I am today.

You’ve talked about healing your postpartum depression through microdosing. What should moms and moms-to-be know about psychedelics?

I wasn't afraid of psychedelics, having done over 140 ayahuasca and peyote ceremonies before my daughter was born. But as a mother, I was scared of losing control. I think many mothers can relate to this feeling, being solely responsible for their child's well-being. I didn’t want to disconnect from reality or neglect my responsibilities.

The best part about microdosing is that you don't let go of your reality. It allows you to tap into your subconscious nuances, like your inner language and dialogue, and be present in the moment. It relieves anxiety and the need to control everything, allowing you to see what's happening in front of you. For mothers, adjusting to a new lifestyle after having a child can lead to grief and depression. Microdosing allows you to tap into yourself over a longer period of time, like a one to three month protocol, helping you feel empowered and in flow.

For me, it felt like I tapped into my 16-year-old and 28-year-old self, two peaks of independence and career success, which made me feel even more empowered as a 35-year-old mother. So for moms who are nervous or excited to try microdosing, don't worry. It's sub-perceptual and can help you be a better mom, partner, communicator, and self-advocate.

A big part of your work is helping clients get comfortable and creative with reinventing themselves. Do psychedelics play a role in that process?

Reinvention is our birthright. As humans, we're here to experience all the pleasures and joy in life, but we've created these linear careers in our societal structures, so there's a lot of stigma around reinvention.

If you're feeling stuck on what to do next, psychedelics can be profound because they allow you to tap into the subtler feelings of pleasure, play, and creativity. Once you see beyond social constructs, parental constructs, religious constructs, then you're able to really ask yourself, "What do I want?"

Psychedelics are especially useful when you're in transition, whether it's becoming a parent, a career transition, menopause, divorce, moving, or whatever else. Your nervous system is taxed, but when you establish good habits like meditation, you can use the medicine to tap into creativity and flow, and go to places that you would have never gone to before. It allows things to come to you. Imagine the mycelium network. That's what our energy and our aura are; we’re already tapped in. Then you add the medicine on top, and it allows the network to draw everything you'd like to manifest to you.

Has your approach ever backfired, either with a client or in your personal life?

When it comes to reinventing oneself, I’ve found that relying solely on logic and strategy can backfire. As a visualizer, I can easily map out a plan for a new business or personal brand, but I've learned that the manifestation of that vision requires more than just a logistical approach. This is where psychedelics have been really valuable for me and my clients.

They help my clients tap into their heart space, where their soul is in touch with universal consciousness. They’re able to make decisions from a place of alignment with their soul's guidance rather than just the logical mind. The medicine helps them open up to new possibilities and take different avenues that they may not have considered before. It's not just about taking shortcuts, but about finding a more holistic approach to reinvention.

So in fact, it’s the opposite. My business coaching has definitely backfired, but it’s been when I haven’t been using psychedelics.

In your view, what does it mean to be rebellious? Why is it so important to you?

I always ask my podcast guests to define rebellious reinvention, and I love that there are so many interpretations of it. For me, rebelliousness is a defiance to what people, places, and things in your life have said that you should be doing. It's about removing the "shoulds" and stepping into the place of really questioning everything, including what you've been taught, what you've learned, your own inner dialogue, and your decision making. When you do that with integrity to your highest self, conviction, and passion, that's rebelliousness.

Rebellion requires a sense of dedication to your inner truth. When you get there, it repels the "shoulds" and creates a path for you on its own. It also repels anything that isn't there for you or might be in your way. So to me, rebelliousness often comes from a drive and a place of brokenness. When you finally find that inner strength to stand up, push back, and stand in your truth, and then come into a space of love, integrity, and trust within yourself, then the rebellion becomes a revolution that can't be stopped.

Feeling rebellious? Subscribe to Danielle’s Rebellious Reinvention podcast, grab her free Microdosing Guide, and join the waitlist for her next Microdose Rebirth.

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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.