Julian Vayne - Power, Practice and Politics in the Psychedelic Renaissance

Julian Vayne shares his experience participating in a medical trial for psilocybin, contextualizing his personal journey within broader discussions of the psychedelic renaissance. He reflects on the inherent tensions of medicalizing these powerful substances, particularly regarding who controls the therapy and why. Vayne argues that psychedelic experiences should not remain restricted to clinical or elite settings. Instead, he highlights the necessity of compassionate, accessible, and diverse usage, advocating for policies that integrate diverse ways of knowing while preserving the sacred and deeply transformative potential of these substances for all beings.