Rule Of Thumb: Psychedelics’ Evolution Into The Mainstream
Denis Pobytov
Originally a taboo in our mainstream culture, microdosing is now being looked at in a new light. Until recently, psychedelics were often looked down upon by mainstream society, but now in specific circles, they are gaining widespread acceptance. Despite years of criminalization, universities, tech companies, and Wall Street are all interested in the potential benefits of ecstasy, LSD, and magic mushrooms.
What is microdosing? “Microdosing involves regularly consuming a small, sub-perceptual amount of a psychedelic substance, such as psilocybin mushrooms or LSD.” The amount of psychedelic drugs taken is significantly below a hallucinogenic dose. Low doses are claimed to enhance daily functioning while avoiding drastically altering the state of consciousness.
The earliest research on the use of psychedelics from the 1940s demonstrated several beneficial effects. In the 1960s, known as the psychedelic era, counterculture figures popularized hallucinogens. Psychologist Timothy Leary, who worked alongside Ram Dass, was one of the dominant figures in the uproar regarding the use of LSD. The Harvard professor and psychedelic advocate was fired from his teaching role at the University for involving undergraduates in his experiments with drugs. The United States government banned hallucinogens in 1967 after negative media portrayal of the drug led to public fear. At that time, the drug was classified as a Schedule I by the DEA because it was deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” As a result, research on the medical use of these drugs was shut down.
In the opinion of the majority, hallucinogenic drugs are recreational drugs and not medicine. Not until the 1990s did the stigmatization of these drugs begin to lift, with increased studies on psychedelics. Areas of research include: using hallucinogens to ease anxiety and depression in cancer patients and psychedelic-assisted therapy to treat severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Psychedelic drug research is currently coming back and investigating the potential therapeutic uses of these drugs. Within the last few years, even more, research is being done on the benefits of microdosing these substances. There has been more open discussion of microdosing by celebrity podcasts and blogs. Joe Rogan, the celebrity comedian with the most popular podcast of 2020 on Spotify, has spent several episodes discussing psychedelics and microdosing with other celebrities and professionals in the research field. People are motivated to microdose because it increases focus, energy, creativity, improves mental performance, and reduces physical pain.
Microdosing is trending, and there is interest in further discussion about the benefits and challenges it brings. As the popularity of the topic increases, so do questions. For example, can microdosing improve mental health? Who should microdose? Is it safe? Is it legal?
This year the New England Journal of Medicine published a study that “highlighted the benefits of treating depression with psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms” compared to a prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Additional outcomes of the study favored the psilocybin treatment. However, the small sample and short-term study have psychotherapists and entrepreneurs who are compelled for more research and concrete evidence of benefits.
People realize that microdosing hallucinogens have potentially significant implications for treating mental disorders and addiction, especially as our society struggles with an increasing rate of mental illness, suicide, and drug abuse.
While many are advocating for the health benefits of microdosing, there is still a concern of safety and unwanted side effects. One study published by the Harm Reduction Journal reported the challenges associated with microdosing. This included: physiological discomfort, social and cognitive interference, and impaired focus, energy, and mood. Some people with medical conditions like anxiety or psychotic disorders may want to avoid substance use for the possibility that it can make symptoms worse. David Nutt, former chief drugs adviser to the government and author of Drugs: Without The Hot Air, said, “There’s a theoretical possibility that a relatively low dose of LSD, taken every day, could narrow the heart valves.” He says that beyond that, there is no evidence it is dangerous to one’s health.
The next concern is the legality of hallucinogenic substances. LSD, MDMA, peyote, and psilocybin are all illegal to cultivate, possess, and sell. Possession of these substances carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. Additionally, even low doses of these substances are subject to showing up on drug tests, leaving room for potentially severe consequences in the workplace.
Despite the consequences, professionals are microdosing to enhance their performance in the workplace. San Francisco became the acid capital of the world in the 1960s, now the home of Silicon Valley, the global center of high technology and innovation. With this exciting correlation, it may be no surprise that the city is leading the microdosing movement.
Silicon Valley embodies hustle culture and is a highly competitive environment to work in. The most brilliant and most talented people in the world strive to develop the next unicorn company that will go public and earns the founders and early employees millions of dollars. So why not turn to substances that increase creativity and focus on getting the job done?
Apple’s Steve Jobs said that taking LSD was one of the “two or three most important things” he did in his life. While Jobs had full-blown trips that opened his mind and allowed him to see the world differently, more people are microdosing as a means to get the same increase in productivity and creativity while avoiding the altered state of consciousness that affects everyday life.
Microdosing hallucinogens to boost creativity and greatly enhance work performance is not uncommon among tech professionals. Diane, a start-up founder, discussed in an interview with Financial Times that microdosing LSD improved her productivity, creativity and helped her focus. She also explained that it helped her network, enhance connections, and heighten empathy at social events. Tim Ferriss, tech investor and author of the Four Hour Work Week, has said almost all the billionaires he knows regularly take hallucinogens. Gail, a 31-year-old start-up founder, takes LSD to help keep herself calm in her demanding and stressful role as CEO.
Most professionals in the field choose to keep their use of hallucinogens confidential because it remains illegal and stigmatized. For Justin Zhu, his use of LSD for performance enhancement did not go unnoticed by the board of his own digital marketing start-up company. The 31-year-old CEO of Iterable Inc. was abruptly fired because he had taken LSD before a meeting in 2019. Zhu claimed that he was trying to take a small amount of the substance to improve his focus, and he accidentally took too much. Andrew Boni, the co-founder who became CEO after Zhu’s dismissal, said that Zhu’s violated the company’s “policies and values,” and his “behavior also undermined the board’s confidence in Justin’s ability to lead the company going forward.”
If as many people in the industry are microdosing to benefit their performance and we are being led to believe, why was Zhu fired? For multi-million - or multi-billion-dollar companies, board members have a legal obligation to maximize shareholder value and do what’s in the shareholder’s best interest. Decades of stigmatization, criminalization, and stereotypes surround psychedelics, and their user influences the perception of many investors and where they want to spend their money. It could be perceived that a CEO who takes hallucinogens, in any capacity, is risky and less trustworthy. Behavior that pushes the boundaries outside of the norm becomes less desirable to invest in when it comes to dealing with millions of dollars.
Research into the use of psychedelic drugs as a treatment for mental health disorders will inevitably continue. In addition, the field of psychology and treatment options could constantly benefit from new, alternative therapies. As the push to legalize Schedule I drugs for this purpose continues, how will it be regulated in areas outside of research and medicine? What regulatory framework will govern these substance’s use for performance enhancement and personal and professional gain? As microdosing becomes increasingly mainstream, both of these questions will remain at the forefront of discourse for the years ahead.
