Packed inside the Ackerman Grand Ballroom at the University of California, Los Angeles, an eclectic group sat and listened as experts thoughtfully discussed a topic that, decades ago, might have struck some as unusual in an academic setting: psychedelics.
It was the first-ever Los Angeles Psychedelic Science Symposium (LAPSS).
The crowd consisted of students, advocates, researchers, and a decent number of apparent enthusiasts in tie-dye shirts. A man wearing roller skates whizzed down the aisle, taking a seat near the front. The panel on stage at the time—Dr. Joe Tafur, Dr. Rachel Harris, and Sitaramaya Sita—was talking about ayahuasca, a plant native to South America that produces intense, psychoactive effects.
Psychedelic drugs aren’t exactly uncommon on college campuses, including at UCLA. (I say that as an alumnus). But for much of their recent history in the United States, these substances have been treated as singularly recreational. Maybe you have an epiphany on LSD, but for the most part, you’re just there for the ride. However, that’s not what this conversation was about.
The community of experts shared their experiences and research on everything from psilocybin to MDMA to ketamine, but the central theme of the event was focused on the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics. In that respect, the event was fitting for the university, which has played a leading role in developing cutting-edge medical technologies and runs world-class medical facilities.
Where there’s demand for science, there will be researchers to responsibly conduct those studies.
Still, the candid conversations about drugs that are either strictly prohibited, or precariously unscheduled, under federal law were unique. LAPSS was sponsored by groups including the Los Angeles Medicinal Plant Society (LAMPS) and the Multidisciplinary Association of