The Psychedelic Science conference (PS25), organized by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), returned to Denver from June 16 to 20, drawing an estimated 8,000 people from all walks of life and around the world to celebrate groundbreaking psychedelic research, culture, and community.
The most important psychedelic gathering of our times convened a ‘who’s who’ of esteemed clinical researchers, venture capitalists, Indigenous representatives, combat veterans, politicians, and more (including your resident satirist and emcee—me) to engage in a spirited exchange of science, advocacy, and ‘conscious capitalism’ at the vanguard of the psychedelic world.
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The event was dubbed “The Integration”, appealing to the more sober climate surrounding this year’s event in lieu of the previous iterations’ unbridled enthusiasm and overzealousness. At Psychedelic Science 2023, 13,000 people came out alongside the world’s leading media outlets and major celebrities on the pretense that MDMA was virtually guaranteed to be legalized as the world’s first-ever FDA-approved psychedelic medicine in the coming months. Ultimately, the bid for FDA-approved MDMA was rejected in 2024, and this year’s event reflected more humility than hubris.
While the conference was large enough to merit a repeat occupation of the mammoth Colorado Convention Center and yield promotion in Forbes and CBS, among other outlets, there was a noticeably reduced turnout and much less overall pomp and circumstance than the event’s previous iteration two years ago in the Mile High City. But what the conference lacked in hoopla and overzealousness, it more than made up for in community spirit and rare novel molecules floating around the recently decriminalized safe harbor of Denver.
Denver decriminalized five powerful natural psychoactive substances in 2022, creating a backdrop of social acceptance and legal protection for the psychedelic community.
“It’s extremely important that we hold this event in a place where people feel safe,” Psychedelic Science director Kevin Balktick told the Hyphae Leaks podcast in the run-up to PS25.
Starting off on a high note
On Wednesday, June 18th at the conference’s Opening Plenary, Governor Jared Polis got a standing ovation after issuing a mass pardon for psilocybin possession convictions, signaling a continued effort to destigmatize natural medicines and to bring social justice and drug policy reform into the limelight alongside clinical research and biotech investment at the forefront of the emergent psychedelic industry.
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Larger than life MAPS founder Rick Doblin downshifted his wardrobe choice from the messianic all white tuxedo fit of Psychedelic Science 2023 to black trousers and a blue collared shirt while keeping the white overcoat, symbolically stating that “We’re battered and beaten but we’re still standing” after the surprise rejection of MDMA-Assisted Therapy by the United States Food and Drug Administration in the wake of PS23 despite Doblin pegging the impending approval rate at “95 percent.”
“If your mission can be accomplished in one lifetime, the dreams aren’t big enough,” Doblin beamed to the audience in a consolation message, underscoring the importance of the ‘marathon, not a race’ mentality that has replaced any overeagerness in the psychedelic industry.
Conference programming with titles like “From North to South: Uniting Nations Through Ceremony and Sacred Medicines” and “Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Private Practice” were scheduled alongside each other as hundreds of panels, book signings, film screenings, and keynote lectures filled the main programming sessions from Wednesday through Friday.
Heavy representation of military veteran perspectives and programming commingled with panels that examined psychedelic use in the Jewish and Muslim communities, with panelists not afraid to broach hot-button subjects like Israel and Palestine.
Ibogaine was a major focal point throughout the week. Texas recently signed a $50 million funding initiative to support Ibogaine research and testing, with the former Governor of Texas and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry in attendance to advocate for veteran access to the psychedelic treatment.
I participated in a panel called “Psychedelic Fatherhood: Transforming Families One Dad at a Time'”on Thursday alongside retired Navy Seal Diego Ugalde, 25-year CNN international producer veteran Cesar Marin of Cultivating Wisdom, and Atlas Consulting founder Christian Gray. I was pleasantly surprised to see the large room fill to capacity for our panel, signaling a growing cultural interest in integrating psychedelic education and lifestyles into multigenerational families.
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Another standout panel from the event was “Sex and Psychedelics: Weaving Altered States for Healing and Pleasure,” which had an overflow crowd and a line out the door trying to get in to catch a peak of Monica Cadena, Leticia Brown, Laura Mae Northrup and Britta Love sharing their perspectives on the intersection of these ancient, vital and taboo topics.
The conference provided an opportunity for numerous organizations tied to the broader MAPS ecosystem to connect and cross-pollinate as well. Global Psychedelic Week hosted its first pop-up event in anticipation of the inaugural ‘GPW’ conference, taking place from November 3-9, 2025, and successfully brought practitioners and advocates from six continents on stage to share truly international and cutting-edge perspectives on the state of psychedelic research and culture at a planetary civilizational scale. The event sold out and set the tone for exciting things to come in the GPW universe.
After-hours proves to be just as exciting as conference
The afterparty circuit at Psychedelic Science deserves its own recognition, given the sheer number, sizes, and execution of the dozens of events hanging in the orbit of the main conference. Every night offered a half dozen different options or more, ranging in size from exclusive VIP high-rise parties to ballrooms accommodating over 2,000 people, headlined by major international artists.
Highlights from the afterparty circuit included legendary underground chemist Sasha Shulgin’s 100th birthday party featuring a psychedelic star-studded guest list with appearances by famed mycologist Paul Stamets, visionary artist Alex Grey, Rick Doblin, and many other representatives of the old guard of first-generation psychonauts. I was fortunate to emcee the main stage programming for the first 30 minutes of the event, packing in as many context-specific jokes as possible into my stage time.
“If Shulgin were alive today, what kind of molecules would he be making? What about one that induces ego death in machine intelligence? It could be called ChatDMT!”
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I had to duck out of the Shulgin party early to be on time for my stage slot at the Tandava Retreats afterparty held at Cervantes Masterpiece Theater and headlined by electronic music artists Savej and Porangui. The venue was absolutely packed, and I wasted no time in kicking off my set by flinging Amanita muscaria mushroom caps courtesy of Minnesota Nice Ethnobotanicals into the crowd. I led the crowd in a satirical breathing meditation in which everyone was instructed to breathe deeply through the nose and “release everything which doesn’t serve you – including the back taxes you owe the IRS…they can’t catch you up here in the astral plane.”
Other standout afterparties included the official Psychedelic Science afterparty produced by Have A Good Trip at the Mission Ballroom that read more like a Bonnaroo poster than an afterparty lineup – Reggie Watts, Vic Mensa, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket performed opening sets for headliner Flying Lotus.
District 216 produced the breakout event of the week with the Psychedelic Playhouse, a ‘conference within a conference’ that drew over 1,500 people across two days and nights, and ended with a packed dance floor bopping to beats laid down by DJ Kat Walsh. I pulled double duty on night two of the Psychedelic Playhouse, emceeing two stages simultaneously while finessing new material accrued throughout the first two days of the conference.
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“Most entertainers work out a door deal with the venue – they’ll get 30 percent of the take at the door for their services, but I actually got a ‘Floor Deal’ tonight – I get to keep 30 percent of the molecules I find on the floor!”
The Dome by PORTAL (Partnership of Responsible Trippers Advocating for Legalization) was another prime example of a world-class ancillary event supported by the existence of Psychedelic Science. A giant immersive 360-degree dome was constructed on a nearby university campus, hosting performances by Grammy-nominated rapper Vic Mensa, a sold out concert by East Forest, a ‘Psychedelic Simpsons’ showcase by Simpsin’s writer and producer Donick Cary, and a split bill comedy performance by myself and comedian Brent Pella among numerous other performances.
Future is unknown for psychedelic culture
Psychedelic Science 2025 showcased the continued integration of psychedelics into mainstream science and culture with a cautious optimism in place of the unabashed exuberance of the previous conference in 2023. Whereas the prior event yielded wrap coverage in mainstream outlets like Rolling Stone, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and many more, the headlines following this year’s conference have so far been mainly limited to niche publications and independent platforms. With the recent readout of Phase 3 clinical trial data from Compass Pathways COMP360 psilocybin for Treatment-Resistant Depression failing to impress investors and causing a dip in the market, and subsequently, the mantra for the emergent psychedelic industry has been ‘one step forward, a half-step back’.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., commented in the week after PS25 ended that he wants to see legal psychedelic therapies available through the Department of Veterans Affairs in the next 12 months. Though this announcement is cause for excitement, industry analysts have become wary of hyperbolic statements coming from the government regarding legalizing psychedelics at the federal level.
While we all wait to see what the future of psychedelics in society holds, no longer with bated breath, the community connections and cherished memories of Psychedelic Science 25 will have to hold us over to the next Burning Man or major announcement as we set about the task of integrating the colorful, mind-manifesting conference experience into our everyday lives.
*This article was written by a guest contributor. The author is solely responsible for the content.
