Can psychedelics and capitalism co-exist?
The fact that someone who tried psychedelics for the first time in 2014 now talks openly about restricting access to them might be unsettling to many in the psychedelic community.
But some investors are already adopting a gatekeeping approach to these ancient medicines. For example, German billionaire Christian Angermayer, founder of biotech company Atai Life Sciences (ATAI), focuses on psychedelic treatment for mental health disorders. According to a piece on Business Insider, Angermayer’s company is looking into medical drug development only. The lengthy list of psychedelic patents filed just in the last 18 months shows many companies may attempt to make ancient plants and fungi formulations into legally protected intellectual property. Psychonauts’ skepticism about capitalist encroachment may sound paranoid to some – but entheogens have definitely caught the eyes of the C-suite… do your homework. Understand the difference between decriminalization and legalization, and why the distinction matters. Know what you’re getting into – and whether those business ventures will function as gatekeepers or pro-access entities.
Original Article (Rolling Stone):
Can psychedelics and capitalism co-exist? 3 things I learned at the oakland psychedelic conference
Artwork Fair Use: Dietmar Rabich
