Detroit is the largest city in the state of Michigan and the largest U.S. city on the United States-Canada border. Located on the Detroit River, the central connection point between Lakes Erie and St. Clair, the great lake system is what fueled the growth of this city.
Historically Detroit has long played a significant role in both domestic and international commerce. Because of its location and proximity to the Canadian city of Windsor, Detroit is the second-busiest international crossing in North America after the San Diego–Tijuana crossing.
Connected through a highway tunnel, railway tunnel, and the Ambassador Bridge, there is a daily flow of goods between the US and Canada. Making Detroit vital for the importation and exportation of goods.
Known as the home to the “Big Three” auto manufacturers– General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis North America (Chrysler). For a long time, Detroit was the center of all automotive manufacturing in the US, earning it the name of the Motor City.
Though the auto industry may have died down, Detroit is still a major city vital for US commerce. It is home to 4.3 million people, making it the second-largest in the Midwest after the Chicago metropolitan area.
Detroit continues its transformation into a modern city. With its new boutique hotels, inspiring outdoor spaces, and booming arts and culture district, it will surely draw more visitors in the coming years.
Despite psychedelics remaining illegal under federal law, things are moving toward legalization. So far, fourteen cities nationwide, one of which is now Detroit, have passed legislation allowing people to cultivate, use and distribute psychedelics.
Oregon is the only state to decriminalize entheogenic drugs for medicinal purposes, but Michigan may very well be next. In this article we explore the history of psychedelic in Detroit and tell you exactly where to find legal psychedelic support near you.
The History of Psychedelics in Detroit, Michigan
As far out as it sounds, psychedelics and Michigan have a long history, predating even English settlement in 1701 when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit. This area is part of the historic home range of the Algonquin people.
The Algonquin people are Indigenous people who now mostly live in Eastern Canada, but their historic home range extended into Michigan, covering most of the area surrounding Lake Huron.
Documentation from the 18th century talks about how the eastern North American Algonquin confined adolescents to a longhouse, a shared living space, and fed them Datura for two weeks as part of a puberty ritual.
Datura is a highly poisonous, vespertine-flowering plant belonging to the nightshade family. Many people will recognize it by its common name, jimsonweed or devil’s snare. If not appropriately dosed, eating or brewing a tea out of seeds and flowers can cause respiratory depression, arrhythmias, fever, delirium, hallucinations, anticholinergic syndrome, and psychosis.
These effects come primarily from the tropane alkaloids that are present in the plant. The two that are most important for Datura’s psychedelic and deliriant effects are scopolamine and atropine.
When ingested, Datura typically produces intense delirium. This usually involves a complete or relative inability to differentiate reality from fantasy. The plant can also bring about bizarre thoughts, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and bizarre, possibly violent behavior.
During the puberty rites, the adolescents who are confined to a longhouse for two weeks and fed a beverage brewed with datura do it to signify the child moving to become a man. The reasoning for the experience was to allow the young boys to forget what it was to be a child so they could take on knowledge they need to learn what it is to be a man.
Although there is still a large Algonquin population in Quebec, the tradition of puberty rites has not continued into the present. Aside from the Algonquin, we don’t see the use of other psychedelic plants. However, that may change very soon as Detroit plans to decriminalize psychedelics along with the rest of Michigan.
A quick side note, although it grows almost everywhere, DO NOT eat, smoke or otherwise ingest Datura. Every year people are hospitalized after consuming this plant, and there have even been several reports in the medical literature indicating that people have died. Children are especially vulnerable to atropine poisoning.
Current Legal Status of Psychedelic Mushrooms in Detroit
Before 2021, throughout Michigan, including Detroit, if you were caught with any psychedelic, you would face a felony punishable by up to 2 years in prison and/or $2,000 in fines. But all this has changed for the better.
On November 2, 2021, Detroit voters passed Proposal E and decriminalized psychedelics. This new proposal essentially decriminalizes both personal and therapeutic use of entheogens, LSD, peyote, and mushrooms, by adults at the local level.
Although this provides local protection, state and federal actors, such as the DEA or Highway patrol, are not bound by the ordinance. They will continue to arrest and prosecute individuals participating in entheogen-related activities.
The entheogenic plants protected in the measure include a number of plants, fungi, and natural materials and their extracted compounds. This means that the protection would also include DMT and not just ayahuasca.
Although the proposal offers a wide range of protections, Peyote is omitted. It will not be decriminalized until it is no longer considered endangered by science and the Native American Church.
The proposal states that the “use, possession, storage, or propagation” of entheogenic plants should not be pursued by local law enforcement—a kind of tongue-in-cheek way of decriminalization. However, the plants are not to be used or displayed in public or when operating a motor vehicle.
The most exciting part of the proposal, at least for us here at Psychedelic Passages, is that the ordinance also protects access to entheogenic plants for their therapeutic value.
This allows for the use, possession, propagation, transfer, or sharing of entheogenic plants with another adult. This carves out a niche for licensed therapists, medical professionals, or religious leaders to facilitate your journey without the possibility of local prosecution.
This ordinance is the first psychedelic decimalization measure in Michigan to be passed by Michigan voters, but things are quickly changing in all of Michigan.
Another city, Hazel Park, recently became the third city in Michigan to decriminalize psychedelic plants and psilocybin mushrooms. This progress forward continues as advocates collect signatures for a ballot measure that would do the same statewide. It is no longer a question of if, but when.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Detroit 2023
With the city’s council passing of proposition E, 63% voted for psychedelic decriminalization. Detroit now has more options than ever. Options include ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Ketamine clinics, which up until recently have been the only legal option for psychedelic therapy, are a place where many of our clients start their journey. The clinics specialize in treating PTSD, depression, and chronic pain.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic. Although it is different from classical psychedelics, it can have a similarly positive impact on people. Clients of these clinics often report that the experience allowed them to detach from their circumstances, giving them a more objective and compassionate view of their life.
If you are interested in learning more, we have an article on the pros and cons of ketamine therapy and one that can help you pick the right clinic for you.
2. Guided Psychedelic Experiences with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we give you the freedom to direct your journey and set the pace for your experience. Not only does this mean offering services with a wide range of psychedelics but completely tailoring every part to suit your needs.
We do our absolute best to meet you exactly where you are. We know from both experience and science that psychedelics act as a catalyst for profound, personal transformation. We firmly believe that everyone who wants to access this medicine should be able to.
Whether that means helping financially with our sliding payment scale or connecting you with the right pre-vetted facilitator, we do everything in our power to ensure you have a journey of self-realization and self-improvement. Our 5-week program includes preparation, integration, and in-person ceremonial support. Every experience is designed with you, the client, in mind.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Detroit Area
- Windsor, Canada
- Hamtramck
- Highland Park
- River Rouge
- Grosse Pointe Park
- Dearborn
- Melvindale
- Ecorse
- Lincoln Park
- Harper Woods
- Hazel Park
Explore How it Feels to be Connected
Psychedelics hold a tremendous power to promote healing and growth. Unfortunately, a lot of the knowledge surrounding psychedelics has been lost to time, but with the help of science and others, we are hoping to normalize and inform people about psychedelics.
If we have caught your attention, book a consultation with our qualified psychedelic concierges. They will help you connect with our network of experienced psychedelic guides near you. If you still have any unanswered questions or want to learn more, head to our resources page to explore and learn more about all things psychedelic and psychedelic adjacent.
If you’re interested in what others have had to say after working with us, we recommend you head over to our testimonials page. This will give you a better feel for how therapeutic psychedelics can be when used in an intentional and supported setting. Have fun, enjoy the journey of self-discovery, and stay safe!
