Philadelphia, often called ‘Philly’ by locals and tourists, claims the title of the second-largest city in the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions, just behind New York City. Philly is a city of many firsts, including the nation’s first library in 1731, a public hospital in 1751, a medical school in 1765, a stock exchange in 1790, and a business school in 1881.
Keeping with this tradition of shaping US history, it also plays a significant role in the country’s future. Boasting 18 four-year universities and colleges, Philly is one of the nation’s leading centers for higher education and academic research.
Despite its academic integrity, the future of psychedelic legalization can seem a long way away. Though psychedelics are currently illegal in the state, legislative moves are being made, and hopefully, there will be a robust system in place by 2025.
Today, we’re taking a deep dive into eligibility criteria that may indicate whether or not psychedelics are right for you. We’re covering the socio-cultural climate of psychedelics in the state, and perhaps most pressingly, we’re letting you know exactly where you can find legal, therapeutic psychedelic experiences in Pennsylvania.
Are Psychedelics Right For You?
In the United States alone, around 80 million men and women are currently suffering from mental health issues and are actively searching for treatment. People are looking for an answer that could help stem the tide.
Not only are we in the middle of a failed drug war that has locked away generations of open-minded thinkers, but we are also collectively facing several existential crises. From pandemics to global warming, society is battling more pressures than ever.
For this very reason, a new wave of mental health treatment has been swelling with support. It’s hard to miss the headlines– State after state and city after city are taking a serious look at the medical utility of psychedelic drugs. With this push, the therapeutic value of psychedelics is once again being explored.
With the wealth of research being conducted, psychedelics have come to show promise for effectively and sustainably treating depression, anxiety, and PTSD– to name a few. The first thing you’ll want to consider when deciding to seek psychedelic therapy is eligibility criteria that may exclude you from participating.
When working with a facilitator, they’ll review the potential risks and benefits specific to your conditions. They’ll ensure that you are not taking any medications or have any medical issues that may make psychedelic use risky for you. Conditions that can be complicated through psychedelics use include:
- Cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and tachycardia. During the trip’s peak, you may experience over-stimulating sensations that increase your heart rate.
- A family history or diagnosis of schizophrenia or psychosis. Psychedelics can make it difficult to differentiate between what is and what isn’t reality. These altered states of consciousness can strain the mental stability of someone with schizophrenia or psychosis.
- Those with bipolar disorder could be triggered into a manic episode or a worsening of symptoms, following psychedelic use.
- Suicidal ideation can preciptate unhealthy and impulsive choices during the psychedelic experiences and afterwards.
Here is a brief overview of medications that can cause adverse reactions—this way, you’ll know if it’s appropriate to consult your doctor before seeking psychedelic therapy.
MAOIs are a class of antidepressant medications. They can include natural herbs like St. John’s Wort, or can come in the form of a pharmaceutical drug. When combined with psychedelics, they can cause an unpredictable increase in psychedelic effects and heavily increase the potential for serotonin syndrome.
Other classes of antidepressants include tricyclic medications, SSRIs, and SNRIs. Not only are they known to potentiate or blunt psychedelic effects, but they can also induce serotonin syndrome if medication is not properly managed.
Although other medications can interact with psychedelics, antidepressants make up a good majority of contraindicated medications. Working with an experienced facilitator can help inform you about your options for safely journeying without concern over medical contraindications.
The Sociocultural Climate of Psychedelics in Philadelphia
Currently, in Philadelphia, psychedelic mushrooms, as well as other psychedelics, remain illegal to sell or share. While they could be growing in your backyard, if you are caught actively cultivating psychedelic mushrooms, you could face charges for manufacturing illegal drugs.
This is a slippery slope; a conviction can lead to significant time in prison. All illegal drugs are listed under the Controlled Substances Act, and all psychedelics are currently considered Schedule 1 drugs.
While this may be the current reality, things are quickly changing in Philly and all throughout the country. In October 2021, House Bill 1959 was introduced to the state legislature. The bill proposed the Public Health Benefits of Psilocybin Act which would allow research into the therapeutic use of psilocybin, in Pennsylvania.
Their main goal at the time was to look into the treatment of a number of mental health diagnoses, anything from PTSD to eating and substance-abuse disorders are open for exploration. Priority would be given to research with veterans and retired first responders. Although many had hoped this bill would pass in November, it ended up being tabled.
The setback makes many wonder when and if Pennsylvania will eventually legalize psychedelics. That said, given the bipartisan support for the Pennsylvania bill, many believe that 2024 or 2025 isn’t an unreasonable goalpost to set. Hopefully, by then, we will be seeing medical psychedelics legalized in the state.
Where To Find Legal Psychedelic Experiences in Philadelphia 2023
Although there are currently strict laws surrounding psychedelics in Philadelphia, there are still two options available for those wishing to legally engage with psychedelic medicine: Ketamine clinics and guided psychedelic journeys with Psychedelic Passage.
1. Ketamine Clinics
Currently, ketamine clinics are one of Pennsylvania’s only options for working with psychedelic-type drugs. Since ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic widely used throughout our medical system, it’s been much easier to approve the drug for off-label use.
Ketamine has been proven effective for treating PTSD, depression, and chronic pain. Although this is an excellent option for those who are beginning on their psychedelic healing journey, there can be significant drawbacks.
Due to the common lack of preparation and integration practices in ketamine clinics, many find the beneficial effects to be short-lasting. Because of this, to maintain benefits, you would need to supplement with additional therapeutic support.
In fact, about 50% of Psychedelic Passage clients approach us to do unsatisfying ketamine therapy experiences. To learn more, check out our article on the benefits and pitfalls of ketamine therapy and explore where you can find ketamine clinics in your area.
2. Guided Psychedelic Experiences with Psychedelic Passage
At Psychedelic Passage, we make getting connected to the right facilitators as easy as it’s ever been. We have carefully curated a pre-vetted network of experienced psychedelic facilitators- taking all of the guesswork out of the process.
Our 5-week program can be completely customized to fit your needs. By allowing you to choose from a wide range of psychedelics and by ensuring that you’re connected to our psychedelic concierge team, you’ll receive full service support, from preparation through integration, and beyond.
By choosing Psychedelic Passage, you can rest easy knowing that your psychedelic experience is supervised and guided by knowledgeable facilitators who have your best interest in mind.
Choose to be hosted by a facilitator near you, or opt to journey from the comfort of your very own home. Personal autonomy over your individual healing process is a priority at Psychedelic Passage, and our network of facilitators ensures that you have expansive support options.
Find Your Next Psychedelic Journey in Any Major Philadelphia Area
- Avenue of the Arts
- Callowhill
- Chinatown
- Elfreth’s Alley
- French Quarter
- Logan Square
- Naval Square
- Jewelers’ Row
- Market East
- Old City
- Museum District
- Penn Center
- Rittenhouse Square
Explore How it Feels to be Connected
Like we said earlier, at Psychedelic Passage we make the process of getting connected to the right facilitators simply, convenient, and informational. If you’d like to connect with our network of pre-vetted psychedelic guides, we empower you to book a consultation with one of our qualified psychedelic concierges.
They’ll help you to get started on the journey of self-improvement and personal growth, by directing you to resources that are specific to your current conditions. Though this article offered an introduction to psychedelic therapy in Philadelphia, we’re sure that you may have more questions.
In that case, we encourage you to check out our blog page for more information on all-things-psychedelic. Well, that’s all we have for now, friends. Have fun, enjoy the journey, and stay mindful!
