Welcome to DOSED
We're spiking the newsletter supply
You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because our world is endangered by the absence of good ideas. Our world is in crisis because of the absence of consciousness.
— Terence McKenna
Welcome to DOSED—an independent psychedelic-focused newsletter and community exploring the vibrant and evolving tapestry of psychedelic culture.
Human cultures are deeply influenced by psychoactive substances. Most don’t realize the extent to which drug policy and socially accepted substances influence a culture. While the West’s techno-industrial culture champions alcohol and caffeine, some cultures prefer substances with very different and arguably more interesting effects.
Used for healing, divination, celebration and more for centuries by cultures around the planet, the nearly worldwide illegality and stigmatization of psychedelics is a relatively new and abundantly eerie phenomenon. The United States prescribed a racist and colonialist drug policy upon the world in 1971, and this prescription has gone mostly unquestioned even though it’s nothing less than a criminal breach of human rights.
The war on drugs isn’t just a policy failure; it’s a war on consciousness.
The war on drugs has left people disconnected—mentally, spiritually, ecologically. Psychedelics have the potential to change that, but only if we do it right.
Psychedelics hold the potential to transform individuals, societies, cultures—and, by extension, the environment. But meaningful change takes time. Transformation begins within. Before systems can evolve, billions of individual shifts in consciousness must occur. Only then can societies adapt, and eventually, the planet heal. This journey requires the freedom and education to safely explore and heal with psychedelics.
The West’s materialistic, oppressive, and disconnected worldview is rooted in dualistic and mechanistic thinking, the domination of nature, and the interpretation of religious concepts for political ends. These systems and stories have defined our culture for centuries, and they won’t unravel overnight.
A year? A decade? Unlikely. A century? Maybe.
Still, psychedelics are a seed—perhaps one of the most powerful—to ignite a multigenerational process of planetary awakening, healing, and transformation. But it’s not enough to hope for change, or peace, or harmony. We must approach the psychedelics with care, intention, and integrity.
If we’re going to do this, we have to do it right.
What is DOSED?
DOSED is a community-powered psychedelic culture newsletter that explores how psychedelics intersect with art, philosophy, science, spirituality, politics, ecology, and more. We uncover stories, ideas, and experiences that reveal how psychedelics are more than just tools for healing—they’re catalysts for reshaping culture, consciousness, and the way we relate to ourselves, each other, and Mother Earth.
While psychedelics are at the heart of DOSED, we dive into broader topics when they reveal the deeper ways psychoactive substances—especially psychedelics—shape the world. With a rebellious yet thoughtful voice, DOSED exists to inspire curiosity, ignite meaningful dialogue, and contribute to the evolving narrative of psychedelics in an increasingly fragmented, disconnected, and chaotic world.
This isn’t just a newsletter about psychedelics. It’s a playground for radical thought and a meeting ground for ideas that challenge the status quo.
Why DOSED?
We can’t start history of psychedelics in the ‘60s in the Americas; that needs to stop. We used this medicine before Jesus Christ walked this Earth.
— Lisa M. Macias Red Bear
The psychedelic renaissance is in full swing, and whatever happens, this cool cat isn’t going back into the bag.
But let’s be honest: the “psychedelic renaissance” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The version sold by media corporations, nonprofits, for-profits, and even figures like Michael Pollan and Brian Muraresku is only a small part of the story. It’s a sanitized, commercialized narrative—a story manipulated by the forces of control, colonization, and commodification of consciousness for profit and power.
It’s the same old paternalistic story. And it’s time for something new—or ancient.
While psychedelics are being marketed as “innovative mental health treatments” in the form of ketamine lozenges and psilocybin pills, there’s a far richer, more complex story to tell. Indigenous peoples across the globe have been in relationship with psychedelic plants and fungi for thousands of years, using them in ceremonies for healing, divination, and more. These practices were never about commodification or profit—they were about connection: to the self, to others, and to the Earth.
At the same time, there’s an explosion of psychonauts in the digital age, sharing their experiences with new psychedelic molecules. Online forums and communities have become modern-day mystery schools, full of firsthand accounts and experiments that stretch the boundaries of what we know about consciousness.
DOSED is here to share these stories and rewrite the narrative. We’re guided by the wisdom of ancient plant and fungal teachers, inspired by the bold innovation of modern lab-made molecules, and deeply skeptical of a system that would rather medicate people back into complacency than help them truly heal and transform.
We’re not really excited by the idea of psychedelics becoming tools for control and profit, co-opted by systems that push people back into the “normal” that made them (and the planet) sick in the first place. Instead, DOSED is interested in building a future where psychedelics are properly understood, widely respected, and used for healing, liberation and evolution—not harm (yeah, we’re lookin’ at you, CIA).
Ultimately, we’re here to help people free their minds and find their souls.
What to expect from DOSED?
Expectations may be the thief of joy, but here’s what you can look forward to:
Long-form essays exploring the weird edges of psychedelic culture, industry, and research intersectioning with art, politics, philosophy, tech, ecology and more.
Short-form digests packed with thought-provoking ideas and links, interviews with cool humans doing psychedelic-inspired stuff, art, music, polls and more.
Opportunities to contribute—we’re not just a newsletter; we’re a community.
Here’s the deal: DOSED only works if people participate. This isn’t anyone’s personal soapbox—it’s a collaborative project, a cooperative space for shared exploration. While we have an editorial process to ensure quality and relevance, we want to amplify as many voices as possible. Your essays, art, ideas, and creative musings are what make this whole thing tick. Think of it like this: DOSED is a living, breathing entity, growing organically with each submission. We don’t yet have a regular publishing schedule—and we might never. Publishing regularly depends on the community showing up with ideas, stories, and contributions.
So, buy the ticket and take the ride.
Submit your work, share your voice, and be part of this evolving conversation.
How to contribute to DOSED?
We thrive on diversity and collaboration. If you’ve got a fresh perspective, a wild idea, or a creative spark—whether it’s writing, art, or design—we want to hear from you.
DM us on Instagram OR join the Substack chat to get involved.
Is this the end? Or just the beginning?
Both, but before your attention drifts elsewhere, we’d love to hear from you.
Help us explore this question:
What does it mean to see the world from a psychedelic-informed perspective?
Please drop your thoughts in the comments.
Your perspective could inspire the next conversation, essay, or idea we share.
Thanks for coming on this ride with us.
Happy new year,
The DOSED team
Much needed and excited to see what’s to come. As somebody who was called to the medicine for my own healing, and now living in LA where everyone thinks they’re a shaman after one trip - I am looking forward to seeing the conversations here.