8 Best Psychedelic Organizations to Follow

The psychedelic drug industry is ever expanding, especially as the stigma surrounding psychedelic substances continues to drop and more opportunities for psychedelic research and insights into their benefits crop up.

As more people begin to recognize the legitimacy of psychedelic science and medicine, the need for reliable psychedelic organizations increases – ones that provide relatable and palatable information on the effects of psilocybin and other psychedelic drugs. 

This list rounds up some of the most prominent psychedelic organizations in the world, offering information that pertains to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, clinical trials that have taken place over time, and the overall effect of psychedelic drugs as a means for harm reduction and natural health care.

1. Centre for Psychedelic Research

Headed by professor and researcher Robin Carhart-Harris, the Centre for Psychedelic Research regularly explores groundbreaking findings related to the action and clinical use of psychedelic drugs and how they might treat things like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental struggles.

The Centre is headquartered at Imperial College London, and regularly scouts healthy volunteers to participate in clinical trials that explore the effect of psychedelic drugs as a form of assisted therapy. The organization focuses on two main themes: psychedelics as they pertain to mental health care, and psychedelics as a means to probe consciousness.

2. Erowid

Established in 1995, Erowid is one of the longest-running psychedelic organizations out there. This nonprofit organization spreads information about psychoactive plants, chemicals, and technologies conducive to an altered state of consciousness, like lucid dreaming, flotation tanks, and meditation.

They remain dedicated to an unbiased approach, being careful to outline the cons as notably as they outline the pros of psychedelics and the potential of their effects. 

3. Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a nonprofit research and educational organization that works to develop a medical, legal, and cultural context for the benefits of psychedelics and cannabis.

The team envisions a world where psychedelics and cannabis are safely and legally available for all types of consumers, and where research is backed by rigorous scientific evaluation that equally explores benefits and risks.

4. Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness

The Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelics and Consciousness is one of the most well-known psychedelic research units in the country. The team is deeply committed to exploring and providing innovative treatments for their patients, and their research has revealed that psychedelics seem to have real potential as medicine.

The Center was the first in the nation to obtain United States regulatory approval to conduct scientific research on psychedelics in healthy volunteers in 2000. Since then, they’ve gone on to explore a variety of psychedelic effects as they relate to mental, emotional, and physical health in patients.

5. The Hakomi Institute

Founded in 1981 by therapist Ron Kurtz, the Hakomi Institute educates and trains people on a specific approach to psychedelics: Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy.

This Native American ideology describes the process of body-inclusive psychotherapy, which is closely linked to the consumption of psychedelics as a means of expanding that body awareness required to really look within.

6. Adventures Through The Mind

Looking for a podcast that delves into the effects of psychedelics? James W. Jesso’s Adventures Through The Mind is a great source to check out, as it explores anecdotal evidence of psychedelic therapy through an interview-based format.

Jesso also wrote Decomposing The Shadow: Lessons From The Psilocybin Mushroom and the True Light of Darkness, which delves into his experiences exploring psychedelics and their potential.

7. International Center for Ethnobotanical Education Research and Service (ICEERS)

The International Center for Ethnobotanical Education Research and Service (ICEERS) is an international nonprofit psychedelic research organization based in Barcelona, Spain. It was originally founded in 2009 by filmmaker Benjamin De Loenen, whose mission is to blaze a path to a future where psychoactive plant medicine is a valued and respected aspect of a global society.

ICEERS hopes to turn challenges into opportunities, regularly traveling the globe to aid in the destigmatization of psychoactive plant medicine and spreading awareness around its potential benefits. They also prioritize the preservation of Indigenous cultures and how they’ve approached psychedelic treatment throughout the decades, ensuring this rich history and the existing body of research isn’t whitewashed or erased.

8. Zendo Project

The Zendo Project specializes in psychedelic harm reduction, working to spread information on the possibility of difficult or negative psychedelic experiences so people are both aware of this risk and properly educated on how to avoid it.

Sponsored by MAPS, the Zendo Project was founded in 2012 and has already reaped quite a bit of success in reducing the global number of psychiatric hospitalizations and arrests related to psychedelic use.

The organization preaches the following four principles to their volunteers working with someone going through a difficult experience with psychedelics: create a safe space; “sit with” rather than “guide through”; talk “through” instead of talking “down”; and always proceed from the perspective that difficult experiences don’t always equate with “negative.”

For those who want to dive even deeper into the world of psychedelic medicine and science, we encourage you to attend the upcoming Psycon psychedelic convention. This convention is an excellent opportunity to connect with experts in the field and learn more about the latest research and developments in psychedelic-assisted therapy and natural healthcare.

By attending Psycon, you can join a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for exploring the potential benefits of these substances in a responsible and informed manner. We hope to see you there! Get tickets!