Georgia has some of the strictest laws when it comes to drug policy, so you’re probably wondering how it’s possible for the residents of the Peach State to access psychedelic healing.
Before this article, it’s likely you thought that your options were restricted to traveling to cities like Seattle or Oakland, where psychedelics are decriminalized, or flying to ayahuasca retreats in Costa Rica or Peru. Or maybe you thought that you’d have to apply for a study in a clinical trial.
The good news is that you don’t have to do any of these things to experience psychedelic healing. At Psychedelic Passage, we come to you. We believe that the transformation of consciousness is a fundamental human right, and we travel all across the US to sit for folks who want to use psychedelics for their emotional and spiritual health.
What allows us to do this comes down to the word therapy. As of right now, psychedelic-assisted therapy is only possible in clinical trials because therapists cannot legally use psychedelics in their practice. Although Oregon is in the midst of creating a system of legal psilocybin practitioners, therapists in every other state risk losing their license if they practice with psychedelics.
However, a practitioner who is not a therapist can provide a psychedelic experience and call it therapeutic without the same legal repercussions as a therapist. Therapeutic simply means “to have a beneficial effect on the body or mind.” In this way, our facilitators can provide a therapeutic psychedelic experiences to the residents of Georgia.
In this article, we’ll be going over the details of the legality of psychedelics in Georgia and how you can have a safe, supported psychedelic experience in your city.
Benefits of Having a Therapeutic Psychedelic Experience
First and foremost, psychedelics are tools. They can produce powerful, life-changing experiences, but they are not what cures us: they are the vehicle through which we cure ourselves.
Take MDMA for example. MDMA is the primary compound in ecstasy, and it’s proven repeatedly to help those with treatment-resistant PTSD heal from the disorder in one or two sessions. In every case, MDMA doesn’t take the disorder away. It provides participants an internal state of love and safety that allows them to process their traumas and gain a new perspective rooted in compassion vs. fear or shame.
In the case of psilocybin, the core compound of “magic” mushrooms, people with depression experience rapid healing because psilocybin turns off the network in the brain responsible for the sense of self. It’s thought that depression is the result of an overly rigid sense of self that is resistant to change. By turning that old self off, psilocybin gifts people the opportunity to know themselves in a completely new way.
This fundamental transformation of self is actually the core benefit of most psychedelics, even for psychologically healthy people. When we view ourselves as separate from the planet and each other, it’s so easy to treat everything outside of ourselves with judgement and anger.
But when we view ourselves as indistinguishable from the vast, interconnected network of life, we become more capable of treating the earth and all its inhabitants with love, trust, and graciousness.
The promise of psychedelics is nothing short of a revolution of being. However, lest we get carried away, we must always remember that psychedelics are allies, teachers, and catalysts, but when it comes down to it, we are the agents of change.
The Current Legislation on Psychedelics in Georgia
Right now, there has not been any significant legal psychedelic reform in the Peach State. Cannabis has been successfully decriminalized in some major cities like Athens and Savannah, and this is a considerable win for a historically strict state. However, it may be some years before any legislation on psychedelics is introduced in the state.
The University of Georgia houses a robust Psychedelic Club and Students for Sensible Drug Policy Club, and the Decriminalize Nature movement, which decriminalized plant psychedelics in Oakland, is being newly implemented in the state.
Although small in number, these various organizations are important for educating people about the benefits of psychedelics and motivating grassroots influence. After Texas surprised the country by mandating that the state carry out research into psychedelic healing, there’s hope that the South in general may follow.
Psychedelics in Georgia: Advancements in Research & Treatment
Georgia has seen significant progress in the field of psychedelic research and treatment, particularly in the context of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD).
This section explores information regarding randomized controlled trials, psychedelic research, treatment-resistant depression, systematic reviews, and the role of organizations like the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in advancing psychedelic studies.
Randomized Controlled Trials and Psychedelic Research: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are rigorous scientific studies that compare the effects of a psychedelic drug with a placebo or standard treatment.
Georgia, like other regions, has conducted RCTs to assess the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted treatments. These trials provide valuable data on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics.
Major Depressive Disorder & Treatment-Resistant Depression: Research on psychedelic-assisted therapies for major depressive disorder (MDD) has shown promising results. Georgia, in collaboration with research institutions, has contributed to studies investigating the efficacy of psychedelic treatments for MDD, including treatment-resistant depression. These treatments aim to address the needs of individuals who have not responded to traditional therapies.
Systematic Reviews & Psychedelic Studies: Systematic reviews gather and analyze existing scientific literature on a specific topic. Such reviews on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy have provided comprehensive insights into the efficacy and safety of these treatments. Georgia’s participation in psychedelic studies contributes to the body of evidence that supports the potential of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS): The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a leading organization involved in psychedelic research and advocacy. MAPS supports scientific studies, including clinical trials, to assess the safety and effectiveness of psychedelic treatments. Their work has helped shape the landscape of psychedelic research and treatment in Georgia and worldwide.
Psychedelic and Consciousness Research: Georgia, along with other regions, has shown a growing interest in exploring the intersection of psychedelics and consciousness. Research initiatives aim to better understand the effects of psychedelics on subjective experiences, cognition, and neural mechanisms. Such studies contribute to the broader field of psychedelic research.
Legal Options: Therapeutic Psychedelic Experiences in Georgia 2023
In Georgia, you have two options for a therapeutic psychedelic experience: ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys. It’s important to note that if you do decide to pursue a guided psychedelic journey, you are responsible for sourcing your own medicine. If you have questions or concerns about this process, check out our Resources page for more information.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Although Georgia has not yet seen any psychedelic reform, ketamine clinics are still popping up all across the state. Ketamine is not a conventional psychedelic, but it does share the capacity for rapid healing— most notably with depression— and major shifts in the sense of self. It is legal for medical use, making it the only substance currently available for psychedelic-assisted therapy.
However, the therapy that clinics provide can vary. Ideally, you want to work with a therapist who will support you before and after your session. Take some time to do in-depth research into the clinics in your area.
If you can’t find a clinic that provides a level of support that works for you, consider seeking out a psychedelic integration specialist or a therapist of your own who is knowledgeable of psychedelics. Check out our article on finding a ketamine clinic near you here.
2. Guided Psychedelic Journeys with Psychedelic Passage
No matter where you live in Georgia, our network of pre-vetted, local guides will sit for you. In order to ensure you receive the best support possible, our network of guides offer a five-week-long program.
This starts off with two virtual preparation sessions to establish your intentions, then you’ll have an in-person ceremony, and then you’ll end with two virtual integration sessions to weave your psychedelic experience in your daily life.
If you’re feeling nervous about a full dose ceremony, you can try microdosing. Microdosing is the practice of taking small amounts of a psychedelic substance several times a week. It’s a great way to familiarize yourself with a given medicine, and we can coach you through a protocol and best practices.
Our networks wants to make sure you feel comfortable enough to fully explore the depths of your consciousness, so they’re here to support you in whatever way you need. Our network is experienced with numerous psychedelics, including psilocybin, DMT, LSD, and mescaline.
Clients most frequently decide to journey with psilocybin mushrooms, as they are the most accessible substance and the hardest to tamper with. Although not as common, guides can also sit for a cannabis journey.
Our Network of Psychedelic Guides Service Every Major Georgia City
- Atlanta
- Augusta
- Richmond County
- Columbus
- Macon-Bibb County
- Savannah
- Athens-Clarke County
- Sandy Springs
- South Fulton
- Roswell
- Johns Creek
- Warner Robins
- Albany
- Alpharetta
- Marietta
Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Healing Journey?
Whatever your intentions are when it comes to psychedelic healing, know that so much possibility awaits you. Psychedelics have been around for thousands of years, used all over the world to catalyze major transformation and guide people through challenging times.
In today’s world of chaos and disorder, the widening acceptance of psychedelics is a powerful signal of hope. We believe that these medicines can help us bring us back to our truest selves, where we are whole, content, and full of love for all things.
If that resonates with you, and you feel ready to take the next steps in your healing journey, book a consultation with our psychedelic concierges. They’d be honored to connect you with our pre-vetted network of local, U.S. guides.
