The PSA Sunday Sound-Off: May 25, 2025
An overdue (re)-introduction, plus What's Next for Psychedelics in Texas?, previewing PSA's ACT Conference recap, upcoming events worth attending, and more!
Happy Sunday! Wherever you might find yourself today, please know that our growing team here at PSA is wishing you and yours a relaxing long weekend.
This Week in Psychedelia…
It’s been a tumultuous week for psychedelic community members around the world and the world wide web - as META - or as I like to call the Tech conglomerate, “The Personal Data Cartel formerly known as Facebook” - began their latest semi-regular Sweep, Suspend, and Ban (SSB) campaign against seemingly as many psychedelic and cannabis-related accounts that “Zuckerberg’s baby” — aka META’s groomer-friendly algorithm — could broadly (and inaccurately) identify.
Thanks to our friends over at Psychedelics Today (who’ve also had their Instagram account permanently banned) - for creating this form for any/all cannabis and psychedelic account owners on Meta platforms who have been suspended or banned in recent weeks to provide their most up-to-date account and contact info so that community members old, new, and prospective alike can find and follow them elsewhere online.
In other, more optimistic news…
As first reported by Marijuana Moment and Psychedelic Alpha — long-time anti-drug war attorney Matt Zorn has reportedly been tapped as the Trump Administration’s “Psychedelic Czar” / Deputy General Counsel at the RFK Jr.-led US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - which, given Zorn’s status amongst psychonautical advocates far and wide as something of a wunderkind - appears to be a sign that substantive drug policy reform really could be a priority under Trump 2.0 and Co.
All that said, it’s been a busy few weeks here at PSA, too — so the following Sunday Sound-Off is but a humble effort to properly synopsize some recent announcements, events, and ongoings for the purpose of streamlining PSA’s content and coverage output in the immediate, medium, and long-term future…
So — speaking of and without further ado…
Re-Introducing PSA’s “Advocacy Spotlight Initiative”
Overdue Announcement # 1: Featuring friends both old and new.
ICYMI: Last Wednesday, during PSA’s latest trip down south and in between The Lone Star Plant Medicine Showcase and the uniquely soothing, Inaugural ACT Conference experience at BATHE Austin last week - I was joined LIVE by:
Psychedelics Today Co-Founder Joe Moore
Lucid News Executive Editor Annie Oak Harrison
Psychedelic Brain Science Podcast Founder Dr. Alaina Jaster
Longtime Psychedelics Reporter Noah Daly (as published in Lucid News, The Warhorse, Military Times, and Rolling Stone, among others).
…For r a formal re-introduction to The Psychedelic State(s) of America’ Advocacy Spotlight Initiative 2.0 - if you will (and for any of my fellow Sorkinites out there, think News Night 2.0).
While you’ll be learning a lot from all of the above (and more) across PSA, PT, and Lucid’s collective networks moving forward, for now I’ll just say:
We’re building a team of elite journalists, scientists, and longtime media professionals for the purpose of radically elevating, amplifying, and further build upon the very best of psychedelic (and drug policy at large)-focused journalism in today’s evolving independent news media landscape.
Join us.
Now, as for “Example A…”
PSA Advocacy Spotlight: “What’s Next for Psychedelics in Texas”
Featuring Texans for Greater Mental Health’s Executive Director Logan Davidson
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out last Thursday’s most recent iteration of the PSA Advocacy Spotlight Initiative, “What’s Next for Psychedelics In Texas?” featuring Texans for Greater Mental Health Executive Director Logan Davidson - who was kind enough to join me live shortly after T4GMH got the big news that The Texas Ibogaine Initiative will be fully-funded to the tune of $50 MILLION for state-level Ibogaine research and immediately before heading back to the Texas’ State House to stump for the passage of additional psychedelic-focused policy reforms through the Republican Trifecta-led state legislature.
Plus, PSA’s Lucid News Debut
While you’re at it, be sure to read PSA’s Lucid News Debut - Psychedelic State(s) of America Puts a Spotlight on Texas - co-authored by Noah Daly and yours truly in what will be the first of a new Column series, aptly-titled The Psychedelic State(s) of America that will aim to interview “grassroots psychedelic advocates and researchers from across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and internationally including Indigenous nations” in the months (and years) ahead.
PSA (Pre)Review: The ACT Conference in ATX
Also: teasing some ACT Conference-inspired PSA Collabs-to-Come
Amidst last week’s multi-debutorial hub-bub — I was honored to be listed alongside a star-studded lineup of speakers at this year’s ACT Conference — powered by TAP INtegration — hosted by BATHE Austin thanks to a generous invitation from conference co-founders Olivia MacDonnell and Mary Olivar.
Although my full conference recap and review is still forthcoming in the week ahead, for now here’s a few highlights from the Lone Star Plant Medicine Showcase — including:
TAP INtegration Founder Olivia MacDonnell, discussing her Life-Changing Spiritual Experience After Escaping a Cult
Building Integrity in Psychedelic Facilitation feat. Ashley Carmen, Founder of the Psychedelic Guide Network
In summation (and before circling back with my full recap and preview later this coming week) — I’ve spent the last few days reflecting on what proved to be a *logistically complicated* excursion south of the Mason-Dixon for #TeamPSA - but (for now) my biggest takeaway by far is that Mary, Olivia, and the entire team behind this year’s ACT Conference are building something sacred down in Central Texas — and I for one, am excited to share some of the stories told and lessons learned from the impressive group of thought-leaders that took the stage at BATHE Austin last week.
Stay tuned for Q+A’s with Mary, Olivia, PGN Founder Ashley Carmen, and a veritable “who’s who” of conference panelists, presenters, and supporters in week ahead and beyond.
Noteworthy Event(s) on Horizons Near + Far
SSDP/Ramos vs. The DEA Headlines The Shulgin Foundation’s New Webinar Series
This coming Tuesday, May 27, join neuroscientist Dr. Alaina M. Jaster, journalist and documentarian Hamilton Morris, psychedelic plant medicine attorney Robert Rush, and moderators by Gina Giorgio and Kat Murti of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) for an urgent and timely discussion about the ongoing legal battle to keep two vital research chemicals—DOI and DOC—accessible to scientists.
This event is the launch of a new collaborative educational webinar series that showcases The Shulgin Foundation's scientific expertise alongside SSDP's policy advocacy, highlighting the intersection of chemical innovation, research value, cognitive liberty, and drug policy reform."
Register here to attend online on Tuesday afternoon.
Next Up: PSA’s Advocacy Spotlight on Michigan
In closing: be sure to tune in LIVE this Wednesday. May 28 at 3:30 PM EST as Dr. Alaina Jaster hosts the latest iteration of PSA’s Advocacy Spotlight Initiative, featuring the Michigan Psychedelic Society!
That’s all for this week’s PSA Sunday Sound-off but until next time, from all of #TeamPSA: have a fantastic holiday Monday and a productive start to the work week ahead!