The Line Keeps Moving

Social media censorship in the psychedelic space isn’t occasional. It’s standard practice.

Every day, science-based posts are flagged. Healing stories are removed. Harm-reduction tips are hidden from view. And educational accounts — some of them built over years — are shut down without warning or recourse.

To stay visible, many in the community have been forced to self-censor — replacing letters with emojis, blurring key terms, or using phrases like pil🍄cyb!n just to avoid automated takedowns.

We get comments and messages every week from people who hate how it looks. Some followers say it undermines the field. That it makes psychedelic education look unserious or illegitimate.

Our response? We agree!

But this is the only way to keep the conversation going — because the algorithm doesn’t know the difference between education and promotion of sales for illegal substances.

The rules? Vague and ever-shifting.

The enforcement? Automated, outsourced, and inconsistent.

And the result? A broken system where psychedelic education is treated like a crime — while actual misinformation often slips through unscathed.

We know this firsthand. We live it.

Just last week, we posted a historical video clip of Paul McCartney to Instagram — responding to a journalist asking if he regretted talking publicly about LSD. He didn’t glorify use. He didn’t encourage it. He simply acknowledged his past, pointed out that the media was amplifying the story, and said the decision should be personal.

The post reached over 700,000 views in three days. It sparked dialogue. It informed. It connected.

Then, Instagram removed it.

“Your post goes against our guidelines. Promoting the use or sale of drugs is not allowed.”

We weren’t promoting anything illegal.

We weren’t selling anything.

We were sharing a cultural moment — from a public figure — that has aired on hundreds of public television and radio networks for nearly 50 years. 

How We Got Here

Last October, Instagram suspended our account. One moment we were posting. The next thing we knew, we were locked out.

The post that triggered it? A clip of comedian Ron White sharing how ayahuasca helped him quit drinking and clean up his life. A personal story of transformation — no promotion, no sales, just honesty.

They gave us the option to appeal.

We submitted it immediately.

Within seconds, we got the response:

Your account has been permanently suspended.

No review. No human. No explanation. Could no longer even login.

We spent two and a half months doing everything in our power to get the account back and eventually, we caught a break.

But most people don’t and we recognize that.

Accounts from legitimate people and brands like Dennis Walker (Mycopreneur), Psychedelics Today, Third Wave, and even fungi-focused educators who never even mentioned psilocybin have been suspended or deleted with no path to recovery.

And this extends far beyond Instagram.

Facebook permanently deleted our page after we posted a video of John Lennon explaining what Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was really about. (Spoiler: it’s not LSD.) The video hit 500,000 views in one night. The next morning? Gone. The reason? “Violation of Community Standards on drugs.”

TikTok suppresses nearly every video we post. Some remain stuck in review forever. Others get marked as “unoriginal” and “ineligible for recommendation,” meaning they’ll never appear in the For You feed. For example, a video explaining the potential of non-hallucinogenic psychedelics was removed for being “low quality." A video on legal psilocybin research? Same result. Both were produced with thousands of dollars worth of equipment, so calling it “low quality” is just an automated excuse.

X (formerly Twitter) does allow psychedelic content — but it’s rarely part of the mainstream conversation unless it’s about Elon throwing back ketamine like it’s a pre-workout smoothie.

So… Why Is This Happening?

Here’s what many in the space have suspected — and what a former Meta employee confirmed in an investigation by must-follow journalist Mattha Busby:

• Most takedowns are automated.

• The system doesn’t distinguish between “promoting” and “discussing.”

• Appeals are reviewed by outsourced moderators with little training or context.

• The policy is vague — and there’s little incentive to fix it.

This is very likely true, but there’s another layer to consider:

While it may have been happening earlier, we noticed in late 2023 that Meta had lost control of its ad approval system. For months, real psilocybin products — including Penis Envy mushrooms — were being advertised through paid ads. It wasn’t subtle. People were buying these substances directly through Instagram and Facebook. And the ads were getting approved.

Then came the federal investigation.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government launched a probe into Meta’s role in online drug sales. Right after that?

A sweeping, indiscriminate crackdown.

Psychedelic educators. Harm-reduction nonprofits. Mushroom cultivation pages. Even gourmet mycology accounts. All swept up. All restricted or permanently banned.

The bots can’t tell who’s selling. So the platforms punished everyone.

Where We Are — And Where We’re Going

Here’s the good news: the entire conversation surrounding psychedelics is making enormous progress.

• Legal access is expanding across the U.S. and abroad

• Dozens of clinical trials are in Phase 2 and 3

• More people are speaking openly about their experiences

• Entire states are building regulatory systems for safe use

• Public perception around psychedelics is changing — fast

Psychedelics are no longer a fringe curiosity. They’re becoming a serious, science-backed tool for healing, insight, and growth. The conversation is growing — medically, spiritually, culturally.

But the systems that host those conversations? They weren’t built for this moment.

And that’s one of the reasons we started Psychedelics Uncensored. We needed a space to speak freely.

To have real, grounded dialogue without dodging words or censoring the truth. To share science, history, experience — and to connect directly with you. No code-switching for the algorithm.

Because this movement is too important to be filtered. And education shouldn't be treated like a crime.

So we adapt. We build new channels. We support one another. We amplify the people doing it right.

And we keep showing up — even when the platforms push back.

If you’ve lost touch with your favorite accounts and creators — we see you.

If you’ve been shadow banned, flagged, or deleted for educating your community — we see you.

This is hard. But it’s not hopeless.

Now’s the time to move forward — together. To help each other. To protect the truth. To fight the stigma with science, with compassion, and with clarity.

So speak up.
Support the work.
Challenge the silence.

And when the line moves again — as it always does — we’ll all move too.

Because this movement is bigger than an algorithm.

And truth doesn’t need permission to be heard.

Zach Leary’s New Book is a Must-Read!

We’re excited to share that our friend longtime psychedelic educator and cultural voice Zach Leary has a new book on the way:

Your Extraordinary Mind: Psychedelics in the 21st Century and How to Use Them.

Part history, part guidebook, part spiritual roadmap — this book explores how psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca can be used with intention, safety, and lasting impact.

Zach offers insight on preparation, integration, trauma healing, and spiritual growth — along with reflections on where this movement has been, and where it’s headed next.

Whether you’re new to the space or deep in the work, this is a timely and practical resource for anyone walking the path of psychedelic exploration.

📖 The book releases on April 29 and you can pre-order here!

Psychedelic Science 2025 is Coming!

The largest psychedelic conference in the world returns this June — and if you’re looking to plug into the future of this movement, this is the place to be.

Psychedelic Science 2025, hosted by MAPS, brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, policy-makers, and psychonauts from around the globe for several days of talks, workshops, and community connection.

Expect sessions on:

🧪 Clinical research and psychedelic-assisted therapy
🌿 Indigenous wisdom and cultural preservation
⚖️ Legal policy and decriminalization updates
🧘‍♂️ Integration, ethics, and future pathways
🌀 The science of consciousness and beyond

And yes — some of the most important conversations in psychedelics are happening in the hallways, not just on stage.

We’ll be there. And we hope to see you!

📍 Denver, Colorado
📅 June 16-20, 2025
🎟️ Learn more here!

Reply to this email newsletter with subject “PS2025 Giveaway” to be entered to win a complimentary Community Pass to the conference!

Stay Informed, Stay Empowered

The more we speak up, the more essential it is to understand the landscape we’re navigating. These resources offer context — from legal realities and religious rights to the growing fight against censorship. Whether you're exploring psychedelics personally or pushing for wider access, these are worth a read:

📰 Rolling Stone: Psychedelic Censorship & the Creators Affected – This feature highlights how widespread the issue of social media censorship really is — and includes our story. Read the article »

⚖️ Psychedelics, Legality & Decriminalization – Want to understand the legal status of psychedelics where you live? This guide breaks down the current laws and emerging reforms. Check it out »

🕍 The Psychedelic Rabbi & U.S. Drug Laws – A thought-provoking look at how religious freedom and psychedelic use intersect — and what one rabbi’s lawsuit could mean for access across the country. Read the full story »

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Thank you for joining us as we continue to navigate this ever-changing landscape.

P.S. Explore what they don’t want you to see - check us out on X (Twitter) and Instagram, and dive deeper into all things psychedelic on our website. 🌐✨