Wow! First I’ve heard of partial legalization here in Canada! That’s great!

I couldn't agree more (as you know, I asked you for a referral!). It has been very hopeful, how studies at John Hopkins are showing how affective and powerful this treatment can be for anxiety, trauma based ptsd, and unfortunate that this treatment is so inaccessible at this point.

I think it's great that psychedelics are being re-evaluated and to some degree legalized after years of treating them as little more than poison. I hope that someday they will be available for wider use by people other than those facing incurable diseases. Anxiety about death, after all, is common among the old whether they are in the "6 months to live" category or not.

What I would especially like to see are service centers like those you mentioned where one could get psychedelics with the guidance of experienced and licensed professionals, thus guarding against a bad trip on adulterated substances. I would very much like to try the drugs but don't like the idea of having to clandestinely find someone reputable.

For the person who recommended scripture--not all of us believe in (biblical) scripture. Just sayin'.

All for it, and I do not understand why it cannot be taken in one's home, if a qualified "service center" person is present. (AKA a "trip doc".) The setting is crucial to the experience and one's home may be the most reassuring, familiar setting. (I have experience, both personally and professionally.)

There are other methods for accessing higher consciousness but few persons can do that without extensive training to the point of mastery.

Yes, like Rubye, I took some psilocybin, and to this day am glad. It taught me, in an experiential way, how I was a part of the earth, and the universe. Oh, very envious of those of you who, can, like Ronnie, use psilocybin in a good environment, with a guide. Hurrah for Canada! For me, and those I know who have experienced the benefits of psilocybin, the doors that opened so gently showed us what quantum physics and ancient spiritual masters have known.

A few days ago I acquired a used copy of "Food of the Gods: A Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge, A Radical History of Plants, Drugs and Human Evolution," by ethnobotanist Terence McKenna. My oldest son read this years ago, and warns me that I now may be on some sort of list for having purchased this, but I'm pretty sure he was joking. Maybe.

I've just started reading it, but I was child of the 1960's and I've been aware of psychedelics for decades, though I've never tried any. I've worried that my grip on reality may be a little too tenuous already, and so far I've found other ways of maintaining my equilibrium through challenging times and haven't felt the need. However, I've never had a life-threatening illness and been given notice of a finite amount of time, and I can imagine that scenario might create some intense emotions very different from any others I've managed.

McKenna argues that psilocybin mushrooms were responsible for the rapid growth and evolution of the human brain, but he also discusses the impacts of other plant-based substances, including sugar, caffeine and alcohol. There's a lot of easily accessible information about McKenna's studies and work, including YouTube videos and summaries of his book that can be easily found via Google. It's pretty interesting stuff, but there are other ways to have one's third eye opened, and it can be done without spending money, taking risks and ingesting chemicals. But I'm not judging anyone who chooses that route. Whatever gets you through life (and death).

I've huge respect for Johns Hopkins but I don't think a sample of 29 is large enough to be terribly significant. And who's to say it wasn't the nine psychotherapy sessions that made the difference?

Nevertheless, if a terminal patient thinks they are being helped by a psychedelic drug (or only a placebo), I certainly wouldn't deny them. Other than that I'm not sure I want individuals running around or driving under the influence of mind-altering drugs. There are other ways to "heighten one's consciousness."

I'm a bit amused by fears of addiction to psychedelics. It just isn't an addictive experience and some of the aspects of ingesting, at least of the raw product are unpleasant. I think the plan you outline, Ronni, with a controlled environment and a mentor would provide insight and assistance for many human challenges. I do think a safe environment could be home with supervision but would counter the fear of people driving etc with the restriction to the place of treatment. I was of an age to have experimented with just about everything back in the day and would definitely say the results were positive!

As a real California hippie of the 60's, I also took psilocybin on 3 occasions and learned a lot from those experiences. However, at soon to be 75, I would not do it again without a guide. I think having someone with experience at my side would be tremendously helpful.

As I've mentioned in past posts, I also use cannabis to assist me in sleeping and for anxiety. I grow my own (allowed in CA) to assure it's 100% organic and to save myself a lot of money. I also make my own edibles. I prefer this plant alternative to putting chemicals in my body provided to me by Pharma.

As to "opening portals", if you don't open them in this life, when will you open them? Isn't that what living is about? Learning, experiencing, loving?

IMHO, and with full respect for Sue, organized religion is a panacea for the masses. Maybe we're due for a discussion on that topic during this transformative time for all of us, especially Ronni.

I don’t mean to be irreverent here or demean anyone but if it treats fear and anxiety I’m hoping they fast track making it legal if Trump gets re-elected

Dear Celia, God also made that lovely tree, with the beautiful fruit - but unlike all the other wonderful trees in the garden - the fruit of this one tree was not to be eaten.
And yes, there is a passage in Scripture (cannot recall where it is) that strong drink can be given for people in acute pain and sorrow.
But the use of these to open the third eye portal? Yikes.

Those interested in the use of psychedelics as an adjunct to psychotherapy (clinical trials): check the site of MAPS- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. The site includes research reports as well as those of persons who were subjects. See especially an account by Virgil Huston, an Iraq vet with PTSD.

In speaking of psilocybin, it is important to differentiate between mushrooms sold on the street and those used in medical facilities, which have access to purified active ingredients. What's sold in the North American market is not necessarily impure, it's just harder to determine the dose.