The 100 Years Club Installment #131: HOT STUFF #3 Psychedelics

June 20, 2025

Reading Time: 4 minutes

This summer, we’ll be highlighting one hot* thing weekly.

The science of psychedelics was hot at this conference, hosted by MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). When KCSA, their PR agency offered me a media pass, I just had to head to Denver!

And, because June 20th is World Psychedelics Day, why not hit “publish” today?

As a psychology major (and almost a therapist), I have long been fascinated by the workings of the human brain and how various treatments and substances can affect its functioning.

As a former trade show and conference executive, I’m drawn to communities that are passionate about an industry.

Depression, anxiety, the impact of trauma, and aging — they can all impact human thought processes and behaviors. Just as the cannabis industry grew up in Colorado, the state has become the epicenter of a whole new hub of research and testing.

In fact, the Governor was the keynote speaker and declared during his talk that he was pardoning people who were incarcerated for possession of Psilocybin and Psilocin in the state.

Like the cannabis industry (which I wrote about a decade ago!), the world is an amalgam of legit medical professionals and woo-woo trippy types. Unfortunately, many consumers’ views of psychedelics are tied to the latter, so I’m hoping this article and the conference itself give you a new perspective.

As with all conferences, some of the most interesting people I met were enjoying the free breakfast in the hotel lobby. Two therapists and a professor explained some of the basics of psychedelics and their use in conjunction with “conventional” therapy — especially with people suffering from PTSD, including veterans.

Here’s a simple list of what constitutes a psychedelic. They were referred to throughout the conference as “natural medicine.”

Among some of the categories I learned about are:

Legislation: Congresspeople, Senators, and other government change-makers discussed the programs and funding that will facilitate the responsible testing and use of new treatments. Congressman Jack Bergman, a veteran of the Marines, was especially compelling. Texas is investing $50M in Ibogaine research to assess its value in treating PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
Health care provider training: These consultants and researchers are vital to the ecosystem, as they give practitioners the tools they need to treat patients with psychedelics. I also saw several specialized organizations, like:
Academic Institutions: Many universities, including Yale, the University of Wisconsin, and the Ohio State University, have incorporated psychedelic research and studies into their labs and curricula. SSDP helps promote Good Samaritan policies on campuses to ensure students aren’t penalized for reporting issues related to psychedelics.
Lab testing and collecting and disseminating research data: This is, of course, a huge and important aspect of the psychedelic world. Among the companies represented there were XandY Analytics, Dynamic DNALabs, Pharmaka, Advanced Mycology, Alkemist Labs, Neurodelics, and Tryptomics.
Legal and accounting services: Subject matter experts, especially in emerging categories, are critical to the companies they serve. McAllister Law Office and Calyx CPA both had booths on the trade show floor.
Growing: Psychedelic mushrooms are part of the mix. Circular Farm and Vertical Crop Consultants were among the exhibiting companies.
Tourism and transportation: I spoke at length with the founder of Odyssey, who runs psychedelic retreats in Oregon (the other state in which they are legal). Beckley runs retreats to a wide range of destinations. On a local level, Sunshine Rides provides transportation alternatives to patients.
Various stress-reduction modalities: A concept stressed throughout the event is that psychedelics are just a part of treatment. This was clear throughout the conference. For example, Mind Gym provides neurofeedback techniques, tools, and coaching. Clix Therapy has tiny hot and cold pads, which worked wonders on my achy neck. Metta Hemp declares you can “Feel good, not stoned” with its zero-THC cannabis. But my personal “best of show” was Crescendo. A vibrating bed and sound immersion were just what this girl needed after walking miles at the conference and talking to so many people.
Arts & entertainment: Comedian/musician Reggie Watts and My Morning Jacket guitarist Jim Jackson talked about the role of psychedelics in their creative process, as well as helping them beat the demons that can accompany public life and touring. I ran into Michael Zapolin, filmmaker and director on the show floor. Known as Zappy Zapolin, he is known as the Psychedelic Concierge to the Stars.
Speaking of all things artsy…You can’t have a Psychedelics conference without a big splash of tie-dye and trippy graphics. Dr. Bronner’s sponsored a dynamic and fun community and creativity area in the conference hall where you could get your face painted, design a custom hat (see mine, below), and pose in an oh-so-colorful photo booth. I skipped the post-show party at Meow Wolf, but I heard it was “far out,” as we used to say.

All I consumed during the experience were protein shakes and coffee, but my mind was expanded nonetheless. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for new developments in this fascinating multi-dimensional world revolving around “natural medicine.”

FOMO? Don’t want to wait two years for the next Psychedelic Science? Psycon has two shows coming up!

My mini photo gallery