From the sprawling landscapes of the rich Alaskan wilderness, locals are emerging with a curious eye on the legislative climate surrounding psilocybin and psychedelic-assisted therapy in their state. With the abundance of surfacing research on the matter, this comes with little surprise.
As the mental illness epidemic continues to sour the daily lives of millions, Americans around the nation are looking to new, but proven methods for treating the debilitating symptoms of mental health disorders. Of course, the Alaskan native people are no exception.
The fine blend of modern culture and long-established tradition within the state, has inspired a progressive slate of psychedelic advocacy within the broader Alaskan community. The question is, are psychedelics and psychedelic-assisted therapy legal in Alaska?
When can we expect state government officials to back the advocacy efforts of their residents and perhaps most pressingly, what’re your options for embarking on a therapeutic psychedelic journey under the sights of Alaska’s gleaming northern lights?
Today, we’ll be answering all of your burning questions on psychedelic-assisted therapy in Alaska, the last frontier. To expand your community, we’ll also explore the most well-known and established psychedelic hub in the state, discussing their motivations and open membership opportunities.
The Current Legislation of Psychedelics in Alaska
The state of Alaska has established fairly advanced drug laws. This is evidenced by their current marijuana regulations. Where some states like Idaho continue to fully prohibit medical and recreational cannabis use, Alaska’s Ballot Measure 2, approved recreational use and possession of marijuana in February of 2015.
How does this reflect onto psychedelic laws though? Unfortunately, Alaska hasn’t yet seen the same legislative traction for psychedelics. As of now, psychedelics remain classified as schedule II drugs. This includes substances like DMT, LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA.
Substances that fall into this schedule are considered to have a (probable) degree of danger. Possession, use, and especially distribution of these substances can carry consequences of incarceration and possible fines, as is the case in most other U.S. states.
Well how about psilocybin spores? Most states permit the possession of psilocybin spores and luckily, Alaska is no exception. Psilocybin spores are completely legal to purchase in Alaska. However, one crucial caveat should be noted.
Psilocybin spores cannot be grown into full maturation. That is, one psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin, starts to become present in the fruiting body of these fungi, they become illegal to possess. Thus, spores can only be grown under legal terms, until the hallucinogenic compound develops in the mushroom.
Psilocybin or ‘magic’ mushrooms are known for growing in wood chips and horse droppings, in the Fairbanks and Denali areas. They’re typically found in abundance in late August. In Alaska, the most common species of psilocybin-containing mushrooms are Gymnopilus spp., and Psilocybe cyanescens.
The Therapeutic Benefits of a Psychedelic Experience
If you’ve come this far, you likely already have some idea of the potent therapeutic benefits that psychedelic medicines can offer. However, a brief recap is duly-deserved. Psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA are known for enhancing psychological openness and enhancing suggestibility.
In a traditional talk therapy setting, many often find themselves unable to pinpoint or draw awareness unto the underlying reasons for their depression, anxiety, loneliness, or emotional numbness, let alone, communicate them with fluency and authenticity.
With enhancement of psychological openness we’re able to explore the more deeply buried and repressed territories of our psyche. These medicines evoke a state of consciousness in which our apprehensions are lowered and a sense of interconnectedness becomes all-encompassing.
Feeling this interconnectedness while addressing past traumas or current frictions within our lives can help us perceive from healthier and less one-sided lenses. It allows us to explore our truth more objectively while simultaneously inching us closer to the forgiveness of ourselves and of others who have caused us hurt.
When our defenses are lowered to such a degree, we release the shackles of resentment that hold us back from building upon more supportive and whole foundations for living and being. When we release the personal narrative of how we are or how we ought to show up in the world, we also release the social conditioning that was instilled in us since childhood.
This surrendering is a liberation of the inauthentic garments we’ve worn, and have made a home out of, without question and due to the imposition of social expectations. Psychedelics let the thinking mind take a back seat. They allow us to feel with our heart and cathartically release that which has been aching to escape.
In our day to day lives, we hold ourselves very tightly, with much constraint. We pay careful attention to the expectations set unto us by others, but neglect the voice within ourselves. The important thing to note here is that fortunately, that inner voice we’ve failed to tend to, will not run away.
However, it will grow louder, it will grow more frustrated, it will grow more impatient and it does find its way into our physical human experiences. Whether that be as random bouts of anxiety, or long periods of difficulty concentrating, intimacy issues, or low self esteem, our bodies translate the thoughts we feel are too frighteningly powerful to verbally release.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy can serve as the catalyst for getting unstuck. Like shaking up a snow globe that’s been untouched for far too long, these medicines allow us to dismantle the mental schemas that no longer serve us, so we can create the inner space to heal and self-actualize.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Alaska 2022
We’ve discussed the legal limitations of psychedelics in Alaska. Now, let’s turn the page and discuss what options you do have for embarking on a therapeutic psychedelic experience. Currently, there are two options for prospective Alaskan journeys: ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Though ketamine is not a traditional psychedelic, its therapeutic benefits have been studied with much less legal stringencies. This is because ketamine has been used in operating rooms as an anesthetic since the 1960s. It produces an out-of-body experience that allows users to reflect on their life experience from a zoomed out perspective.
By placing the journeyer in a less personally-involved state of mind, they can analyze their trouble with more objectivity and less self-judgment. Off-label ketamine use is legal in Alaska and can be quite beneficial for those suffering from treatment-resistant depression.
However, not all ketamine clinics are made equal. That’s to say, regulations for the type of support offered before, during, and after these sessions are not heavily controlled across the board. Therefore, to serve your greater healing purpose, it’s of utmost important that you find a qualified psychedelic therapist to assist in the preparation and integration of the ketamine infusion sessions.
Unlike traditional psychedelics, ketamine therapy most often requires at least 6 dosing sessions for completion of clinic programs. It can be difficult to decipher what the best therapeutic option may be for your personal needs, that’s why we suggest you look over our article on how to find a ketamine clinic near you!
2. Guided Psychedelic Journeys With Psychedelic Passage
Guided psychedelic experiences with us, Psychedelic Passage, are another option for embarking on your journey in the safest, most intuitively-guided way. Whether you’re looking to work with LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, peyote, ayahuasca, DMT, or anywhere in between, if you can source it, we will sit with you through the experience.
We understand that at this point in time, due to lack of regulations surrounding psychedelic facilitation, it’s difficult to know who you can really trust. A therapeutic psychedelic experience isn’t something to take lightly, which is why every aspect of our program is specifically designed for transformation.
Our carefully curated network of thoroughly pre-vetted facilitators are located everywhere around the country. Each of them come from their own specialized, experiential backgrounds, with a comprehensive understanding of each and every psychedelic medicine.
Our 5-week program includes preparation, the psychedelic ceremony, and integration, where you’ll work with your facilitator to digest the experience and translate its meaning unto the contours of your everyday self. Most importantly, we guarantee your personal autonomy every step of the way.
Meaning that we fully acknowledge mental health treatments are not and should not be treated from a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, we should be given the therapeutic space to assess what is truly best for us and choose how this path of inner healing would be best navigated.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey In Any Major Alaska City
- Anchorage
- Fairbanks
- Juneau
- Badger
- Knik-Fairview
- College
- Tanaina
- Wasilla
- North Lakes
- Sitka
- Kalifornsky
- Meadow Lakes
- Ketchikan
- Kenai
- Steele Creek
Psychedelic Culture in Alaska
Earlier in this article, we promised to discuss the social climate surrounding psychedelics in Alaska. Now here we are, taking a dive into the Alaska Psychedelic Society, the psychedelic advocacy group who has taken on the mission of spreading awareness through education and peer support.
Based out of Anchorage, Alaska, this Facebook-based group offers a community platform for like-minded Alaskans to connect over psychedelic science and spirituality. With a following of over 971 residents (that’s the entire population of Delta Junction and more than population of Chevak), it’s evident that a movement is most definitely afoot in the vast lands of Alaska.
Though current legislation may be discouraging, it’s important that we shed light on what is being done within the Alaskan community and among the Alaskan people, to come together in healing and recognize the need for legal, therapeutic psychedelic services.
An important current event to recognize is President Joe Biden’s recent announcement. This past July, he announced his anticipation for MDMA and psilocybin to be approved by regulators within the next 2 years. This means that Alaska state officials may not have the only say in decriminalization, instead, these psychedelics may soon be legalized for medicinal use at a federal level.
Explore How It Feels To Be Connected
We’ve reviewed a lot of information today on the drug policies involving psychedelic medicines within the state of Alaska. Psychedelic therapeutics is still in its infancy, meaning every small action makes a big riddle in the larger body of healing, at a state level, at a national level, and most importantly, at an inner level.
If we want to spread love through healing, we must first advocate for our own recovery. We must first serve ourselves from a place of honesty, non-judgment, acceptance, and trust. If you’re interested in embarking on a therapeutic psychedelic journey, booking a consultation with us might be a place to start.
Education is one of the best ways to spread awareness. Therefore, we encourage you to visit our resources page and explore the extensive bibliotheca of informatic articles, just like this one. Then, we empower you to share any information that sparks your interest, with a peer or a loved one. Share your truth, friends, and safe journeying!
