Psychedelics such as ayahuasca and psilocybin have been used to treat ailments for thousands of years, however it wasn’t until synthetic psychedelics such as LSD and ketamine were synthesized in the 1950s that tripping became a popular pastime at music festivals and parties.
Unfortunately, the war on drugs set forth by the Nixon administration started a movement of banning and regulating mind-altering substances which led to the mass incarceration of those choosing to participate in the use of psychedelics.
Nashville, being a racially and socioeconomically diverse city, was hit hard by the war on drugs as citizens were unjustly incarcerated. Even today, there is still a stigma surrounding psychedelic use.
When looking for someone to help facilitate your psychedelic experience, one of the most important factors to consider is whether they are qualified to facilitate your journey, as well as their role in your healing process.
Previously, we’ve discussed psychedelic assisted therapy in Tennessee, so today we’ll focus on providing helpful information about the legal status of psychedelic drugs in Nashville. We’ll explain your options for seeking legal psychedelic therapy, as well as tools for assessing who would be a qualified match to guide your journey.
Current Legal Status of Psychedelics in Nashville, Tennessee
In the state of Tennessee, almost all psychoactive substances are illegal and considered Schedule I drugs, meaning that they are not seen to possess any medical utility and have a “high potential for abuse”.
Being charged with possession of drugs such as LSD, magic mushrooms, and MDMA could result in jail time, and fines of up to $100,000. Due to these potential legal risks, there’s an ongoing and active effort for psychedelic reform in the U.S.
The Benefits of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
One major benefit of psychedelic therapy is that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms target serotonin receptors and can increase activity in the prefrontal cortex and limbic systems of the brain. These structural changes have been proven to reduce anxiety and improve emotional stability.
Because of the intense emotions that psychedelics can produce, as well as the increase in brain entropy that comes along with tripping, it’s believed that these drugs act largely by uncovering subconscious thoughts and repressed emotions.
This is particularly helpful to people who have suffered from traumatic experiences and people who are experiencing post traumatic stress disorder. In addition to healing trauma and reducing the symptoms of PTSD, psychedelic therapy can help people overcome addiction to substances.
For these reasons, this form of therapy is especially important to implement in places like Nashville, which have high rates of depression, but currently lack the resources to combat mental health problems effectively.
Due to the current legal status of psychedelics, this psychedelic therapy can be particularly hard to find, but working with a psychedelic guide can be a great way to integrate this therapeutic practice into your life.
The Role of a Psychedelic Guide
The most important thing to understand about a psychedelic guide is that they are there to support you. Their role is not to navigate the trip for you or intervene every time you have an uncomfortable emotion, but rather to guide you through the hard parts and ensure that it’s a learning experience
One important quality to look for in a psychedelic guide is therapeutic trust. Ideally you will have met with your psychedelic guide prior to journeying and have established a mutual trust.
Another factor to consider when choosing your psychedelic guide is experience. Has your guide had the opportunity to experience psychedelic therapy as well? After all, you can’t teach someone how to play the guitar if you have no experience playing the guitar yourself!
After choosing a psychedelic guide, you’ll be given recommendations for determining the proper dosage and ensuring an adequate setting. They’ll guide you through all necessary preparation and integration measures to ensure a fluid transition in an out of the psychedelic experience.
Where to Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Nashville 2023
Right now, two options exist for seeking therapeutic psychedelic experiences in Nashville, Tennessee: Ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Even though almost all psychedelic substances are currently illegal in the state of Tennessee, ketamine has been approved as a schedule three drug, meaning that it has some medical properties and uses as long as it’s kept within those settings and not sold or distributed anywhere else.
A few of the benefits of ketamine include the fact that it is relatively cheap to produce, thus it’s been researched far more than other psychoactive drugs. Another major benefit to ketamine is that it’s legal to use in medical practice all over the US for treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain.
That being said, ketamine is not your typical hallucinogenic drug and while there are many positive ways in which ketamine can improve mental health and overall well being, there are still quite a few drawbacks to ketamine therapy.
For example, while ketamine does cause the user to experience dissociative and sometimes hallucinogenic effects, it targets a different type of neurotransmitter than psilocybin and LSD. Ketamine typically binds to NMDA receptors while LSD and psilocybin bind to 5-HT, also known as serotonin receptors.
For many, the effects of ketamine therapy are not quite as long lasting as other forms of psychedelic therapy. In these cases, the drug isn’t to blame. These often short-lived benefits are caused by a common lack of proper preparation and integration support offered by ketamine clinics.
However ketamine can still have therapeutic benefits when used correctly, in a proper setting, and with adequate support. So, if you’re seeking to find a ketamine clinic near you, do your research to ensure that you receive the therapeutic support you need.
2. Guided Psychedelic Journeys with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we are dedicated to spreading the message of psychedelic healing and to giving everyone equal opportunity to benefit from these medicines. Every part of our 5-week program is designed for personal transformation and customization to each client’s specific needs.
Not only can you choose from a wide range of psychedelics, but you have full autonomy over the direction of your journey and the pace of your experience. In fact, you even have the freedom to choose where your experience takes place.
You can choose to be hosted by one of our host facilitators or you can choose to have your journey in any San Diego landscape, in a private residence. Our facilitators can even travel to you, allowing your journey to unfold from the comfort of your own home.
Our program includes preparation and integration, as well as in-person ceremonial support. Whether aiding financially with our sliding payment scale or connecting you with the perfect pre-vetted facilitator, Psychedelic Passage will meet you exactly where you are.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Experience in Any Major Nashville Area
- Goodlettsville
- Lebanon
- Mount Juliet
- Murfreesboro
- Smyrna
- Hendersonville
- Gallatin
- Nolensville
- Brentwood
- Franklin
- Portland
- Spring Hill
Starting Your Psychedelic Journey in Nashville
You may be feeling ready to take the dive and begin your psychedelic journey. So how do you start? Fortunately, here at Psychedelic Passage, we are able to guide everyone, whether it is your first time or your hundredth psychedelic experience.
We are not here to dictate the trajectory of your journey, but to provide you with the most supportive environment for personal growth and healing. You set the pace at which you navigate the process, and of course, you choose which facilitator you feel most comfortable working with.
To get started, book a consultation with any of our qualified psychedelic concierges, or take a moment to check out our resources page for more information on the life-changing benefits of psychedelic therapy. That’s all for now, safety-first psychonauts. Mindful journeying!
