DoubleBlind Issue 7

As people around the world seek ways to cope with the unique intensity that is the 21st century, we’ve seen the emergence of new and old solutions. Nowhere is that reflected more than in the psychedelic movement. In this issue, we highlight many of the solutions being put forth, from disrupting capitalism to, simply, spending more time with trees. Dr. Bennet Zelner, Associate Professor of Business and Public Policy at the University of Maryland, prompts us to consider what an equitable psychedelic pharma might actually look like (and whether that’s even possible); reporter Ben Adlin investigates the US military’s $27 million psychedelic research program; and DB cofounder Madison Margolin takes us deep into the underground scene of Hasidic Jews, finding catharsis through tripping and praying—at the same time. We also go to Gabon, where Cameroonian poachers are overharvesting Iboga amid a rising demand for Ibogaine, and to an island off of British Columbia, where writer Mercedes Grant encourages us to make space in our lives for grief. The overarching theme is that we’re at a moment that’s calling us inward, to reflect on who we want to be and how we want to show up as the psychedelic “industry” grows. We invite you to contemplate that with us.