Our Biggest Takeaways from Psychedelic Science 2025

Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver returned after a one-year break with fewer attendees and a more sober tone, while still pushing the field forward. The conference highlighted setbacks since the last event, including the FDA rejecting a MAPS-sponsored MDMA-assisted psychotherapy application for PTSD and broader political and business headwinds. The event theme, "The Integration," focused on combining research, policy change, spirituality, and clinical work. Colorado featured prominently: Gov. Jared Polis announced pardons for state-level psilocybin-related convictions for adults 21 and older. Attendees also debated whether psychedelic therapy should stay integrated with talk therapy or be separated in approaches by well-funded companies. Finally, ibogaine drew attention as Colorado may fast-track its use, with mentions of its longer journey time compared with psilocybin and ongoing research and state-level funding discussions, including work tied to addiction and veterans.