These are not your parents psychedelics.
“Life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves.” — Bill Hicks
“Life is only a dream and we are the imagination of ourselves.” — Bill Hicks
I’m a supporter of psychedelics.
Not in a communal “let’s hang out and listen to Phish” kind of way…or any other mediocre band that you think may sound good when you’re tripping. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the experimental and social use of psychedelics (the music discussion we can table for now). It’s just not my thing, anymore.
I support the use of these drugs for a host of reasons. But first, let’s look at the two categories — macrodosing (for LSD, 100 + micrograms) and microdosing (for LSD, 10–20 micrograms).
If you want to be free of ego and examine your inner self, macrodose. I macrodose once a year. I like to consider it a re-alignment of my psyche, since that’s possible. For me, it’s a personal event that I don’t feel needs to be shared with anyone…aside from my dog and cat.
I microdose about once a month, just to keep the wheels greased.
Psychedelics have come a long way and they’re slowly beginning to return from where they came. Which is to say, they’re being used to benefit certain maladies such as PTSD, addiction, depression, end of life illness, etc.
If you need affirmation, consider that Ketamine (Special K) is now legal in the United States for treatment-resistant chronic depression, MDMA (Ecstasy, Molly) is now legal in Israel for the treatment of PTSD and Johns Hopkins University is in a phase three trial of Psilocybin (Mushrooms) for the use of end of life care.
Pulitzer prize-winning publications have written stories about the growing psychedelic movement, both in academic studies and nontraditional usage. Esteemed writers like Micahel Pollen and Ayelet Waldman have written popular books about their experiences. While not necessarily a groundswell, it’s progress.
Over the past year, I’ve been very vocal about my experience:
7 Things I Learned Microdosing LSD
Did it change my life? It certainly added value.medium.com
Shiny Objects
As a result, I’ve been beleaguered with stories about people’s experiences with macrodosing psychedelics. Which is great, I have many similar experiences too. I was just 17 years old. I’m not 17 anymore.
When I try to explain the difference between macro and microdosing, you’d think I was trying to tell them about the String Theory…and I know shit about that.
After explaining the difference, several people have said “Oh, we should microdose together.” The use of the word “totally” all but ensures any social interaction moving forward is unlikely. Recently, I’ve been less accommodating and retort with “Why?”
“Because it would be fun.”
“No, it wouldn’t.”
And then I’ll get a vacant stare for about 10–20 seconds.
“Why not?”
Fuck. Me. Microdosing has helped me in some ways, but I still get easily frustrated when people don’t listen.
To which I have to explain again, more tersely, the difference between macro and microdosing.
I explain that typically speaking, the most you’ll feel from a microdose would be the same as drinking a good, strong cup of coffee. To be fair, that’s been my experience. So rather than attempting to procure an illegal drug, I’ll sarcastically suggest we get coffee.
The duller folks will ask “Then why do it?”…to which I respond by rolling up some tinfoil and throwing it on the ground for them to play with.
The more inquisitive will ask “How does it work?”…to which I don’t have an answer. I have my theory but it’s only based on my experience. I’m also not a scientist and one person is hardly a substantial data set. I can only say that it works for me and that I benefit from it.
However, research on microdosing is beginning to pick up steam, so maybe in a few years we’ll have some ideas about why it’s effective. Until then, we’ll have to rely on anecdotal stories like mine.
Now microdosing is best used following a 30-day protocol, referred to as the Fadiman Protocol.
Dose Day -> Off Day -> Off Day -> Dose Day.
In short, once every 3 days for 30 days.
But, it should be noted, it may not be effective for everyone. I have heard of people not gleaning much from it. Now, that could be because they expected something grand, weren’t keeping notes on their experience, or genuinely didn’t encounter anything.
And it should also be noted, microdosing (or macrodosing) are not cures. They are complementary aids. If you microdose because you’re depressed, you should continue any talk or behavioral therapy and pharmaceutical regiment you have. If you microdose to help treat addiction, follow your recovery program, etc.
To reiterate, this is not a cure!
You’d think because it’s not a cure that big pharma would get behind it (god knows they hate anything that cures). But because everything is off-patent, they have (at least to date) been reluctant to study the benefits of psychedelics because they can’t strangle the market.
I’ll go ahead and continue espousing the benefits of psychedelics because I’ve benefited from them. And I think many people can. And no, I don’t believe these are for everyone.
BUT, and it’s a big one, these drugs are illegal. So don’t bother asking how me how to get them.
And if you do choose to explore this, PLEASE be very careful, there are loads of awful people out there. Too many. Do yourself a favor and purchase a testing kit too. Those are easy enough to get. If you want to macrodose, that’s probably easier to track down. Microdosing is much more troublesome.
The very last thing you want is to microdose and then end up macrodosing because some half-wit street dealer told you it was 10 micrograms of LSD when it was 175 micrograms. You won’t OD, jump off a building, or break your brain, but you will probably have a shitty experience.
Psychedelics are illegal not because a loving government is concerned that you may jump out of a third story window. Psychedelics are illegal because they dissolve opinion structures and culturally laid down models of behaviour and information processing. They open you up to the possibility that everything you know is wrong.
- Terrence McKenna
Psychedelics can be a powerful tool. So if you decide to macrodose or microdose (again or for the first time) take as long as it takes to find a trusted source, and above all, be smart.
microdosingpsychedelics.com — FAQ on Microdosing
Albert Hoffman suggested that taking 10–20 micrograms of LSD could have a positive effect on mental health and physical…sites.google.com
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