Shelby Hartman
- Shelby Hartman is Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of DoubleBlind. Her work has appeared in VICE, Quartz, the Huffington Post, and Rolling Stone, among others. Shelby worked in broadcast news production for CBS News covering presidential elections, protests, natural disasters, and other breaking news. Spurred by a passion for print and investigative reporting, she transitioned to magazine writing, working as an editor at Pasadena Magazine and receiving her Master’s Degree in long-form journalism from Columbia University in 2015. Since then, Shelby has worked as a columnist at LA Weekly and an editor at Herb, the largest cannabis media company, with extensive features on post-traumatic stress disorder in the veteran community, the cannabis industry, the psychedelic research boom, and the popularization of ayahuasca. You can follow her on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Latest Articles
Health & Wellness
From Psilocybin Nasal Sprays to Transdermal Ayahuasca, Inside the New Wave of Psychedelics
An ethical debate unfolds about the optimization of plant medicines by drug development companies
Art + Culture
Best Psychedelic Gifts for Every Occasion
So, you're shopping for a psychonaut. Don't worry—we've got you.
Art + Culture
This Intentional Community Has Been Quietly Changing the World for Decades
From taking the McKennas into the Amazon on a ship to building a hotel for Tibetan refugees in Kathmandu, the Theater of All Possibilities has pioneered a new way of living and creating.
Politics
Colorado Psychedelics Legalization Measure Qualifies for November Ballot
The bill would legalize the possession of certain psychedelics and allow for psilocybin treatment centers—but not all advocates are in favor of it
Politics
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Pushes for Psychedelic Reform in Congress
The amendment would require the Department of Defense to study the therapeutic potential of psilocybin and MDMA for military service members
AYAHUASCA
How the Shipibo Came to Be the Most Common Group Serving Ayahuasca to Foreigners
Modern ayahuasca ceremonies draw from the wisdom of Amazonian cultures, Shipibo culture in particular. So why isn't this common knowledge?
Politics
Psychedelics Activists Arrested at DEA Headquarters Amid Protest Over Psilocybin Access for Terminal Patients
Protest called attention to DEA’s obstruction of Right to Try statutes.
FEATURES
Breaking News: Ann Arbor Decriminalizes Psychedelics
Ann Arbor just became the third city in the United States to decriminalize all-naturally entheogens.
FEATURES
Why Kava is a Beautiful, Legal Way to Treat Anxiety, Build Community, and Create Ritual
Kava is known for its mellow, relaxing effect. Now DoubleBlind has partnered with Potent Kava so you can try it at home.
FEATURES
SSRI and LSD Interactions, Plus Shrooms and More: Why Taking Psychedelics While on Antidepressants Could Make Treatment Ineffective
Dr. Julie Holland talks to DoubleBlind about SSRI and LSD interactions, plus how psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine are impacted by anti-depressants.
FEATURES
How Long Do Shrooms Stay In Your System?
If you're prepping for a drug test, the answer to how long shrooms "stay in your system" depends on how you're testing for the presence of the mushrooms' compounds.
FEATURES
Long Term Effects of Microdosing: What To Know Before You Begin
The long-term effects of microdosing have been largely unstudied, but aside from building a tolerance, there may be other risks or benefits we don't know about yet.
How To
How to Stop A Shroom Trip: Should You Even Try?
Having a bad mushroom trip? Here's how to get through a challenging psilocybin experience.
FEATURES
How Long Do Shrooms Last?
When considering the effects of shrooms, don’t just account for the length of the trip, but the integration period after.
FEATURES
How Long Does It Take for Shrooms to Kick In?
Well, it depends on a lot of things—from your body to how you take them.
FEATURES
Mushroom Dosage: What is the “Right” Amount of Shrooms?
Mushroom dosage can be tricky, especially when different varieties come with different potencies. Here’s what you should know.
How To
How to Grow Mushrooms: A Beginner’s Guide
Our comprehensive guide on how to grow mushrooms, from supplies to the best mushroom growing teks for getting started.
How To
How to Make a Spore Print
If a spore is like a seed for fungi, learning how to make a spore print can help you collect them so you can grow your own mushrooms.
How To
How to use Agar in Mushroom Cultivation
Making agar cultures can help with contamination when growing your own mushrooms.
FEATURES
Types of Magic Mushrooms: 10 Shroom Strains You Should Know About
More than 180 species of psilocybin mushrooms, including the famous psilocybe cubensis, grow wildly around the globe—here are our favorites of these types of magic mushrooms.
How To
How to Make a Spore Syringe
If you're growing your own mushrooms you'll want to source or make your own spore print—and next, a spore syringe. Here's the 101.
FEATURES
Our Guide To Medicinal Mushrooms: Depression, Immune Support, & More
Medicinal mushrooms have become a trendy item in upscale groceries, but using them is nothing new—so what, exactly, have they been used for over the centuries?
FEATURES
Where Do Magic Mushrooms Grow?
What do shrooms look like and where do they grow? Here are some tips for where to find shrooms while foraging.
FEATURES
Why are Shrooms Illegal?
It’s been almost 50 years since shrooms were banned internationally, but recent developments suggest that the days of prohibition are numbered and legal mushrooms may be on their way.
FEATURES
The Definitive History of Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms
From 10,000 B.C.E. to the present day—and into the future.
FEATURES
Gold Cap Shrooms: What You Need to Know
Gold Cap Shrooms, also known as Psilocybe cubensis, are among the most popular magic mushrooms.
FEATURES
Microdosing Mushrooms: Dose, Benefits, Side Effects
From dosage to effects, and everything in between, here's the ultimate guide to microdosing mushrooms.
FEATURES
Liberty Caps Are Among the Most Potent Magic Mushrooms
Psilocybe Cubensis Isn’t the Only Magic Mushroom Out There—Here’s What You Should Know about Its Cousin, Psilocybe Semilanceata (AKA Liberty Caps)
FEATURES
Psilocybe Mexicana: History, Potency, Cultivation and More
Curandera Maria Sabina first introduced mycologists R. Gordon & Valentina Wasson to Psilocybe Mexicana in the 1950s, he shared his story with the world, and the rest is history.
FEATURES
Psilocybe Azurescens: This Magic Mushroom is Stronger than What You’re Used To
While the well-known Psilocybe cubensis contain .14-.42% psilocybin, Psilocybe azurescens are packed with 1.78% psilocybin.
How To
How to Make Shroom Tea: The Ultimate Mushroom Tea Guide
Mushroom tea is easy to make, but what are the benefits of drinking psilocybin extract rather than eating shrooms whole?
How To
Mushroom Chocolates: A Simple, Ancient Recipe for Shroom Chocolates
Mushroom chocolates are an ancient combination used in Mesoamerican ritual and religious ceremony. Here's our recipe for magic mushroom chocolate.
How To
Mushroom Edibles Recipe: Tips For a Simple, Delicious Psilocybin Experience
Looking for a mushroom edibles recipe? First thing's first: keep it simple. Here's our 101 on heating, dosing, nausea, and more.
How To
How to Take Shrooms
Want to know how to take shrooms? Michelle Janikian has everything you need to know.
How To
How to Lemon Tek: A Complete Guide for Mushroom People
The lemon tek method of consuming magic mushrooms can shorten a trip’s duration and decrease nausea, but can also make the whole experience more intense.
How To
How to Harvest Mushrooms: A How To Guide
You've grown your own shrooms and now they're ready to be dried and consumed—but first things first, how do you know how to harvest mushrooms?
How To
How to Dry Shrooms
Here's how to dry shrooms in the final stretch, preserving the aesthetics and potency of your psilocybin experience.
How To
Psilocybin Spores: Where to Buy Mushroom Spores
Psilocybin spores are technically legal, but in most places germinating them is not.
How To
Mushroom Grow Kits: The 5 Best Mushroom Grow Kits for Growing Easily at Home
With these mushroom grow kits, you'll be sprouting spores in no time
How To
Mold on Mushrooms: Contamination Tips For Shroom Growers
Finding mold on mushrooms happen to the best of us—here's how to spot different types that may infiltrate your grow.
COLUMNS
Shrooms vs. Acid
Psilocybin mushrooms and LSD are among the most popular of the classic psychedelics. Here's our comparison of shrooms vs. acid and their different effects.
How To
Acid and Weed, Mushrooms & Weed: Should You Combine Them?
It's common to mix shrooms and weed, MDMA and weed or acid and weed, but should you? And are there any risks?
FEATURES
Jedi Flipping: What It’s Like to Mix Shrooms, Acid, and Molly
Jedi flipping can be fun and transcendent, but also overwhelming and risky—here are some harm reduction techniques if you're planning a flip.
FEATURES
“Candy Flip” Explainer: What Happens When You Mix Acid and Molly?
Described as intense and transcendent, here's everything you should know when you candy flip, from dosage to harm reduction, and more.
FEATURES
Hippie Flipping: What to Know About Mixing MDMA and Mushrooms
Hippie flipping, a.k.a. flower flipping, can be euphoric or overwhelming—depending on how you go about it. Here are some harm reduction techniques.
FEATURES
Breaking News: Federal Drug Decriminalization Measure Introduced in the House
The Drug Policy Reform Act seeks to end federal criminal penalties for drug possession, expunge criminal drug records, and invest in health-based approaches to drug policy.
Health & Wellness
Want to Measure the Magic in Your Mushrooms? You Can Now Test Psilocybin Potency at Home
The miraculix test kit shows the percentage of psilocybin in your mushrooms.
FEATURES
Cambridge Decriminalizes Psychedelics
On Wednesday (Feb. 3), Cambridge joined the movement to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi.
FEATURES
Today, DoubleBlind Makes these 5 Promises to You
A candid letter from DoubleBlind's Editor-in-Chief
FEATURES
DMT to be Researched for Depression for the First Time
Researchers are hopeful "the spirit molecule" will also treat OCD and PTSD, among other conditions.
FEATURES
Vancouver Becomes First City in Canada to Decriminalize All Drugs
On Wednesday (Nov. 25), Vancouver's City Council unanimously voted to decriminalize all drugs, from LSD to heroin.
FEATURES
Breaking News: Ann Arbor Decriminalizes Psychedelics
Ann Arbor just became the third city in the United States to decriminalize all-naturally entheogens.
People + Opinions
Why Humans Believe in God
Cognitive scientist Justin Lane on the evolutionary imperative for having a spiritual practice
FEATURES
Dr. Bronner’s Donates $1 Mil to Legalize Medical Psilocybin in Oregon
Dr. Bronner's Soaps is on a mission to overturn psychedelic prohibition—starting with Oregon
Health & Wellness
5 Ways to Trip Without Psychedelics
Turns out, you don't need psychedelics to have a psychedelic experience.
FEATURES
Redesigning Psychedelic Mushrooms to Never Cause a “Bad Trip”
The key to "good trips only" may lie in aeruginascin, the CBD of psilocybin mushrooms.
COLUMNS
What Does It Mean to “Be Here Now?”
One man tackles an age-old question—and comes upon insights, beneficial to us all.
Equity + Indigenous Reciprocity
Jewish and Transgender
The journey to authenticity means reconciling the various parts of who we are
Equity + Indigenous Reciprocity
Where are All the Queer People?
The mental health field has historically neglected the LGBTQI+ community. Psychedelic research has been no exception—until now.
People + Opinions
Rick Strassman on DMT and the Mystical State
Before we claim that spiritual experiences heal, we must agree on what a spiritual experience is.
Art + Culture
Watch the Vibrations of Ayahuasca Songs Projected on Water
Contemporary Artist Naziha Mestaoui uses technology to make the invisible visible
Equity + Indigenous Reciprocity
The Ayahuasca Privilege
Ayahuasca may be incredibly healing—but most people can't afford it.
People + Opinions
Alex Grey on His Journey to Finding God
"We need to quickly understand that this is a sacred world. That is the message of psychedelics."
Art + Culture
Piatsaw
Photojournalist Nicola Ókin captures the deep resilience of indigenous communities facing extractive forces in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
