Psychedelic Professionals Meet: DENVER

Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Groups are happening!  Let's keep Colorado on the leading edge of psychedelic medicine work by coming together in community to learn, share, and grow. Each Psychedelic Professionals Meetup Group starts with an informative topic relevant to research, practice, policy, or activism around psychedelic medicines, followed by open discussion and an opportunity to connect with like-minded others. 

For our September 2021 gathering in Denver, we are excited to welcome Dr. Shannon Hughes, one of the founding board members of the Nowak Society and an Associate Professor of Social Work at Colorado State University. Shannon will be making an argument against medicalization and psychedelic gatekeeping through prescription privileges. By default, substances like MDMA and psilocybin that are being taken through the FDA approval process will eventually be available by prescription through a licensed prescriber. Additional efforts to decriminalize or otherwise regulate these and other psychedelics may open up access beyond medical gatekeepers. In this talk, Shannon highlights what we've learned from the history of medical gate-keeping of other psychoactive substances, such as those regularly prescribed for psychiatric purposes. Why does a doctor stand between a person and the drug they wish to use? What are the consequences, based on the history of prescribed psychiatric drugs, of concentrating authority for drug access? Shannon will use a human rights and cognitive liberty lens to discuss these and other questions related to access to psychoactive drugs and medicines. Join us in September for this critical discussion!

If you have ideas for topics or presentations for these meetup groups or would like to be more involved, please contact us! Please support the Mercury Cafe by purchasing food or drink during our event.