Starting in 2023, Oregon will be the first state with widely legalized psychedelic drugs, and although the law didn’t approve psychedelic therapy, there’s already a burgeoning network of businesses, pharmaceutical companies, and nonprofits trying to get a foothold in what could become a booming industry. These include shops selling the drugs, training for psychedelic therapy, and operating clinics where the drugs would be used. This comes as the psychedelic legalization movement gains ground as a way to treat psychiatric conditions such as depression, and win FDA approval of drugs and treatment methods. While psychedelics have shown some promise in early research, it’s still not clear what effect they might have on patients, what controls are necessary, and how they should be used in mental health or clinical settings. Generally considered safe, psychedelics such as magic mushrooms also come with risks. They can be emotionally destabilizing, potentially exacerbate psychosis for people with pre-existing conditions, and create feelings of susceptibility. As more states consider legalizing these powerful drugs, we must ask serious questions about how to make them safe and accessible at scale—particularly for vulnerable populations.
One company that is backing psychedelic legalization is, unusually, the liquid soap maker Dr. Bronner’s, which has become one of the biggest financial contributors to the movement to win mainstream acceptance of these drugs. Since 2015, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps has donated more than $23 million to drug advocacy and research organizations, following on from its hefty contributions toward cannabis legalization.