Mississippi state has paved the way for many major medical advancements, including the first lung, heart, and kidney autotransplant. With such revolutionary scientific minds, it’s no shock that state residents are beginning to express interest in the quickly growing field of psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In previous articles, we’ve discussed the evidenced therapeutic applications of psychedelics, including their potential for treating ADHD, OCD, and even autism. Any treatment with such a large spectrum of applications deserves widespread acknowledgement, not only in the world of science, but also in our federal and state politics.
We know that drug reform can be particularly dawdling in the U.S., especially after psychedelics were unfoundedly criminalized in the 1970s. This begs the question, what is the current legislation of psychedelics in the state of Mississippi? What developments can residents expect in the coming years?
Perhaps of equal significance, what can Mississippians do to legally seek psychedelic-assisted therapy in their state, right now? Today we’ll be covering all of your burning questions on the legality of psychedelics in Mississippi.
Current Legislation of Psychedelics in Mississippi
In some cases, a state’s cannabis laws can offer insight into their prospective support of psychedelic medicines. In Mississippi, cannabis has been decriminalized, legalized for medical use, but not recreational. These cannabis laws do appear to be somewhat reflective of the state’s psychedelic legislation.
As of right now, psychedelics are illegal for both medicinal and recreational use in Mississippi. In fact, psychedelics are categorized as Schedule I drugs, following federal classification. When substances fall under this classification, they’re considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Of course, innumerable studies on the therapeutic value of psychedelics like LSD, DMT, and psilocybin mushrooms, have proven otherwise. However, we assume that state-wide decriminalization of these drugs will emerge as more research continues to be published.
The Schedule I classification of psychedelics makes for harsh possession penalties. For example, if found possessing 2 to 10 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, consequences can result in prison sentences of 8 years and up to $250,000 fines. Of course, cultivation and possession with the intent to distribute, would negatively augment the legal repercussions associated with psychedelic drugs.
Though this information seems bitterly discouraging, a recent announcement might offer a light at the end of the tunnel. In July of this year, President Biden put forth a statement publicizing his administrative plans for legal psychedelic therapy.
He anticipates that MDMA and psilocybin therapy will be legalized by regulators within the next two years. This means that psychedelic therapeutics may be legalized at a federal level before Mississippi state even has the chance to deny or accept them.
On another note, it might interest you to know that psilocybin spores are completely legal in the state. In fact, many local businesses sell psilocybin spores. However, you should bear in mind that these spores are only legal because they don’t yet contain any active psilocybin metabolites in them.
When psilocybin spores are germinated, psilocin, the active metabolite of psilocybin mushrooms, starts to become present in the fruiting body. This means that psilocybin spores cannot be legally grown into maturation. When psilocybin becomes present in the mushroom, legal bounds for cultivation would be crossed.
Psilocybin mushrooms can be found naturally growing in the wilderness of Mississippi. Specifically in grasslands where cow dung is commonly present, several mushroom species are known to grow. The most common psilocybin species found in Mississippi are Panaeulos cinctulus, Panaeolus cyanescens, Psilocybe caerulescens, and Psilocybe cubensis.
The Therapeutic Benefits of a Psychedelic Experience
If you’ve found an interest in psychedelic medicines, you’ve likely already heard of the incredible therapeutic benefits these substances can offer. Research has proven their efficacy in treating anxiety, PTSD, and treatment-resistant depression, to name a few.
We know that these drugs have the power to stimulate neural plasticity. This is essentially the repair of damaged neurons and dampened neural connections by the elongation and densification of dendritic spines and axons. Synaptic dysfunction is relevant to many people, even those without diagnosed mental or somatic disorders.
This promotion of neural plasticity not only improves overall neural communication, but helps to ameliorate irregular activity in many brain regions. The Default Mode Network (DMN), for example, is responsible for reinforcing the circulating narratives of self, active when we’re not focused on our outer environments, but rather, are inwardly reflecting.
The DMN curates our sense of self, our “I”-ness, and in most people with mental disorders, the DMN experiences significant overactivity. This can be attributed to excessive negative rumination in depression, paranoid or overly-analytical contemplation in anxiety, or hyperfixation in ADHD and OCD.
Psychedelics have been shown to significantly and sustainably reduce this overactivity, which can be illustrated as a neural reset to our ingrained mental routines. Because psychedelics act via our 5-HT (serotonin) receptors, they’ve also been proven to increase levels of serotonin.
In fact, not only do they increase serotonin production, but as a result, new 5-HT receptors are also formed to compensate for this sudden rise in neurotransmitters. With SSRIs and antidepressants, discontinuation of the medication results in a depletion of serotonin.
On the other hand, psychedelics quite literally instill the neural tools for our brains to continue producing the same level of serotonin in absence of the substance. If you’re unfamiliar with serotonin, it’s a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate sleep, mood, libido, and memory functioning. Many psychological disorders are a result of serotonin deficiencies.
On a more subjective level, psychedelics can catalyze intense inner reflection and transformation. A therapeutic psychedelic experience with premeditated intentions, allows us to observe our current circumstances and overall world view, from less rigid perspectives.
On a day to day basis, much of the physical and mental activity we conduct, are relatively unchanging and almost automated. When approached with a problem or obstacle, we tend to instinctively follow a specific set of belief systems, which can be incredibly limiting in many cases.
From a young age, our caretakers and the environments we were exposed to, conditioned us to think and behave in very fixed and biased ways. The circumstances we were presented with created defense mechanisms that have come to be almost indistinguishable from the values we consider as our own.
This can be very simply exemplified by considering the thought patterns of someone who was raised by a narcissistic parent. As they aged, their natural response to life events were skewed by their relation to the narcissistic parent.
In a scenario where this person is met with a potential partner who is very open about their feelings toward them, this person may react out of defense, relating their potential partner’s affection to the love bombing that was experienced in their youth. This person may not recognize their internal resistance to emotional connection, as a coping mechanism.
Instead, because narcissistic tendencies have surrounded every aspect of their childhood, their emotional unavailability may be confused for independence or practical self caution. In this way, psychedelics are able to disconnect us from relating to the world through the lens of our conditioned beliefs.
They can dissolve our defenses by allowing us to sit in a state of mind that’s untouched by the perversions of our nurturing, like gaining access to the natural state of our minds. This, among many reasons, is why journeyers often report feeling as though they were a child again during their psychedelic experience.
These reports frequently involve accounts of ‘seeing the world through a fresh pair of eyes’. Psychedelics give us the opportunity to connect with the innate, artistic and intellectual curiosity that once governed our actions, but has become dulled as adherence to routine increasingly permeates our adult lives.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Mississippi 2022
As of right now, there are two options for having a therapeutic psychedelic experience in Mississippi: Ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
In recent years, ketamine has been approved for off-label use by the FDA, and state residents have quickly jumped on the opportunity to offer these services. We should note that ketamine is not a traditional psychedelic, in fact, it’s not a psychedelic at all. Rather, ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that has been used in hospital operating rooms since the 1960s.
‘Off-label’ use is a status given to medications that were formerly used for a specific purpose, other than the currently proposed one. For ketamine, this means a shift from its primary use as an anesthetic to use in therapy clinics. Because ketamine is a dissociative drug, it allows users to shift their awareness from a first person to a second person point of view.
This can be beneficial for people suffering from PTSD and treatment-resistant depression, as such a change in perspective allows you to observe your life circumstances from a less involved lens. Instead, you’re able to look at your thoughts and your life from a more compassionate place.
You can feel a productive empathy that helps acknowledge yourself as a human being enduring emotional heaviness and negative self-talk. With this, you’re able to take on more objective decision making skills, with better awareness on the triviality of certain life events and on the deeper purpose in order.
It’s important to recognize though, that there are both benefits and pitfalls of ketamine. Not all ketamine clinics are made equal. Many have unfortunately begun to compromise quality of therapeutic support for financial profit.
This is why we always encourage thorough research on the different protocols of ketamine clinics. If you’re looking for ketamine clinics near you, ensure that the service providers are qualified psychedelic therapists or facilitators.
2. Guided Psychedelic Journeys With Psychedelic Passage
Here, at Psychedelic Passage, we offer guided psychedelic journeys in every state across the nation. Our 5-week program includes thorough preparation, ceremonial, and integrative support. Psychedelics are not and should not be approached from a one-size-fits-all perspective.
Mental health is unique for everyone, and that’s why our top priority is to service your healing journey with a plan that’s tailored to your specific needs and goals. We recognize that this fresh space of psychedelic medicine can be tricky to navigate, and it can be especially difficult to assess who is truly qualified to facilitate a psychedelic experience.
That’s why we’ve taken on the mission of curating a pre-vetted network of experienced and qualified facilitators, so you never have to question if you’re receiving the proper therapeutic support. Whatever your medicine of choice is, if we can make it to you, we will sit with you through your journey.
We recognize the importance of equal access to these life changing treatments and have created a BIPOC and low income fund to subsidize the cost of our program for those in need of financial assistance. Our income-based pricing allows us to tailor program costs to the financial circumstances of each and every client.
Healing does not mean eradicating our emotional damage. It means changing our relationship to the circumstances that have painfully affected our lives, so they can no longer have control over our relationship to others and to ourselves. Our program is specifically designed to catalyze personal transformation, and we’d be more than honored to assist you on yours.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Mississippi City
- Jackson
- Gulfport
- Southaven
- Biloxi
- Hattiesburg
- Olive Branch
- Tupelo
- Meridian
- Greenville
- Madison
- Clinton
- Pearl
- Horn Lake
- Oxford
- Brandon
Explore What It Means To Be Connected
By now, you might feel compelled to delve deeper into these novel therapies. If you’re interested in embarking on your own psychedelic journey or would like to learn more about our process, we empower you to book a consultation with us.
Whether or not you’re seeking to have a psychedelic ceremony with us, we’re here to be a resource to you. There may be many unanswered questions still lingering in your mind. In that case, head on over to our resources page where you’ll find a large inventory of informative articles just like this one.
Remember friends, healing isn’t linear, it’s a combination of positive action and awareness of our problems. Wherever your journey takes you, we wish you safe and supported travels. That’s all for now our fellow psychonauts, until next time!
