Dec 29, 2021
Dear Plus Three listeners,
Thanks so much for your continued support throughout the year. We couldn't do it without y'all. Psymposia is a small 501(c)(3) non-profit entirely funded by people who believe in our work. We're a volunteer organization and 100% of the funds we raise go into operating costs, which add up quickly. Please consider supporting us monthly on Patreon or making a one-time donation. All donations made by December 31st at midnight are tax-deductible.
Thanks for your support! (Read Psymposia's full 2021 Year in Review with selected stories here)
2021 was a watershed year for psychedelics, marked by both mainstream excitement about their potential benefits alongside warning signs about the risks of harm—to both individuals and society—caused by the people who wield them.
What a wild ride it’s been. Local organizers have continued to
decriminalize psychedelics throughout the United States, new
research centers have been announced almost monthly, and
long-overdue conversations about ethics are gaining prominence.
Despite these positive developments, there is cause for
alarm. From a self-described “shaman”
storming the Capitol to revelations about
psychedelic therapist abuse, 2021 witnessed multiple bellwether
events for psychedelic authoritarianism, which highlight the need
for ongoing ideological harm reduction to protect against abuses of
power.
At the same time, special interests and corporations backed by
right-wing funders are trying to grab the reins and control the
psychedelic narrative. We’re determined to even the playing
field.
Through it all, Psymposia has provided unmatched reporting and analysis to challenge the polished pitches and press releases that have been disseminated by psychedelic pharma and the mainstream medicalization movements.
Our mission is not to simply deconstruct the logic of prohibition,
but to democratize access to the information we need to
build a post-prohibition world that works for all of us.
While psychedelic decriminalization is a positive first step,
Psymposia continues to advocate for complete drug
decriminalization.
Psymposia exists as a result of the relentless work that our
volunteer staff pours into our projects—projects that have garnered
national and international attention for our groundbreaking
research and journalism. Now,
more than ever, we believe in the necessity of our work,
which is unfettered by the corporate
payoffs, conflicts of
interest, and
sponsored content that have become commonplace in the
field.
Psymposia is a 100% independent non-profit media and
research organization that is dedicated to challenging the
narratives of the powerful and of the power-seeking on behalf of
the public.
Through articles, podcasts, videos, and peer-reviewed research
published in top academic journals, our team continues to impact
the conversation about psychedelics and drug policy—despite
repeated industry efforts to silence us and marginalize our
work.
But in order to do our work as a watchdog, your
financial support is vital.Unlike other media outlets
covering psychedelics and drug policy, we refuse to compromise our
mission or create conflicts of interest by accepting funding from
the corporations we are tasked with covering.
While other psychedelics organizations have blacklisted us and
threatened to doxx our sources,
we are unapologetic about our work and stand by our mission.
We are sustained by people and communities who believe in
the work we do. You can support us monthly on Patreon or make a one-time donation (and, until Friday at midnight,
donations are still tax-deductible for 2021).
If you’re unable to donate, you can support us in other ways, like
sharing an article with a friend, leaving our podcasts a rating and
review, or simply sending us a message. We appreciate the
non-monetary support and solidarity we've received this year. It
means a lot to us.
Thank you for your continued support.
In solidarity,
The Psymposia team
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