🧠 Psychedelics = Future of Brain Repair?

👋 Welcome

Happy Tuesday, friends!

The psychedelic world keeps moving fast — from groundbreaking science on brain injury healing to powerful recovery stories and global movements.

This week is a reminder that what once felt fringe is now shaping the center of medicine, culture, and policy.

🔝 Weekly Highlights

• 🧠 Kyrsten Sinema backs psychedelics for TBI — The Arizona Senator says psychedelic therapy could help heal the invisible wounds of brain injury. Watch here
  

• 🍄 Oregon’s bargain mushroom trip — A journalist tried the lowest-cost psilocybin journey in Oregon. His story is worth a look. Read it
  

• 🎙️ From counterculture to mainstream — An interesting read highlighting how psychedelics aren’t just for hippies or tech bros anymore. New science is reshaping the story. Listen here

🧬 Quick Hits

RESEARCH 🔬

• 🚗 Cannabis & driving — Frequent cannabis users show no impairment after 48 hours without use. Details
  

• 🌀 After the trip — MAPS launches a study on how to help those who face challenges post-psychedelic experience. Learn more
  

• 🧩 Plasticity without the trip — A non-hallucinogenic psychedelic analog boosts brain plasticity in surprising ways. See study
  

• ⚠️ Check your edibles — A study found Oregon mushroom edibles contained zero psilocybin — and undisclosed synthetics instead. Read more
  

• 🔬 Ohio State tests “legal psychedelics” — Researchers probe what’s really inside products sold under that label. Story
  

• 💉 Ketamine vs. others — Some scientists reaffirm ketamine’s value for depression but say more research is needed for other psychedelic medicines. Report

POLICY 🏛️

• 📜 NY psilocybin hearing — Lawmakers schedule a hearing to weigh psilocybin’s medicinal value and risks. More
  

• 🎓 Shroom Fest allowed — A court rules the University of Michigan must permit the campus psychedelic festival. Coverage
  

• 🌿 Ibogaine in Colorado — State psychedelics board recommends adding ibogaine to regulated healing centers. Story
  

• 🏛️ Pennsylvania hearing — State Democrats hold a public hearing on using psychedelic therapy to treat depression. Read more

BUSINESS 📈

• 💰 atai scores NIH grant — Company awarded up to $11.4M to develop non-hallucinogenic compounds for opioid use disorder. Full release
  

• 🏢 AbbVie enters psychedelics — Pharma giant AbbVie makes its first move into psychedelic drug development, signaling a new era for the field. Story

CULTURE 🎭

• 🎬 Ibogaine on Netflix — In Waves and War, a new doc on veterans healing with ibogaine, drops later this year. Read

• 📖 A philosopher’s guide — Justin Smith-Ruiu’s new book digs into the meaning of psychedelics. Review
  

• 🌊 Surfer saved by shrooms — A harrowing story of how mushrooms helped one man heal and reclaim his life. Article

🌈 Main Features

Psychedelics & Brain Injury Healing

Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are some of the hardest conditions to treat. Traditional medicine offers little beyond rest and rehab — and for many, the symptoms never go away.

New research published in Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry suggests that psychedelics like psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT could repair damaged neural networks, reduce inflammation, and restore lost connectivity. Scientists describe it as “building new roads in the brain.”

That potential isn’t just theoretical. Former NHL player and two-time Stanley Cup champion Daniel Carcillo suffered several diagnosed concussions that left him with crippling migraines, memory issues, depression, and suicidal thoughts. After years of failed treatments, he says psilocybin mushrooms saved his life — lifting the fog, easing his pain, and giving him back a sense of purpose. Today, he’s an outspoken advocate and co-founder of Experience Onward, pushing psychedelic therapy forward for athletes, veterans, and anyone living with the invisible wounds of TBI.

The implications are huge. Millions of people worldwide live with brain injuries. If psychedelics can help repair and restore where conventional medicine falls short, this could mark a new frontier in neurorehabilitation.

👉 Full article

💡 Upcoming Events

🌍 Global Psychedelic Week Set to Make History

This November, the psychedelic world comes together for Global Psychedelic Week, a hybrid gathering designed to unite science, culture, business, and community under one roof — both online and in person.

Over 5,000 attendees from 100+ countries are expected to take part, with 200+ partners and 100+ speakers leading seven days of talks, panels, and community-driven events. Each day spotlights a core theme — from veterans’ healing to women in psychedelics — creating a global stage for dialogue and collaboration.

The program includes:

• Online events: Keynotes, expert panels, and interactive sessions featuring leaders across research, policy, and therapy.

• In-person satellite events: Locally hosted gatherings worldwide, offering communities a chance to connect, celebrate, and exchange ideas.

• Advisory program: Support for emerging psychedelic communities, helping them build connections and resources.

• Global platform: A hub for daily communication and knowledge sharing across borders.

This is a global movement — giving professionals, activists, businesses, and curious newcomers a chance to co-create the future of psychedelics. From industry innovation to cultural storytelling, from legacy traditions to modern science, the week promises to be a turning point in how the global community organizes and grows.

Even the ticketing gives back: 5% of sales go directly to support Maria Sabina’s family and veteran healing organizations — a nod to tradition and a commitment to those carrying the weight of trauma.

Plus, everyone’s psychedelic crush Dennis Walker is one of the organizers and is heavily involved. So chop chop - let’s go!

👉 Learn more and get involved

🎁 Psychedelic Utility Belt

• 🧭 Integration Guide — A medically reviewed roadmap for processing and applying psychedelic experiences. Read here
  

• 🌿 History of plant medicine — From ancient rituals to modern science, a look at how cultures have worked with psychedelics for millennia. Explore

👋 Signoff

As the week ramps up, take this with you: every step forward in psychedelic research and culture is part of a bigger story — one of renewal, connection, and possibility. From fresh clinical data to global events uniting thousands, the momentum is real.

Rest well, stay curious, and keep your eyes open to what’s ahead. The future of healing is already unfolding.

✅ No one can stop you from seeing what’s delivered directly to your email. 

You’re already subscribed - congratulations!

You beat the algorithm 😉 

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. 🌐✨