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Although the therapeutic promise of psychedelics is often highlighted, there is a much larger story at play here: one of corporate power, political ideology, digital surveillance, and fundamental questions about the limits of Western medicine. In this episode of The Integration Session, we step back from treatment breakthroughs to examine the bigger story: the rapid rise of ‘Psychedelic Capitalism.’
We are joined by Kevin Walby, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Winnipeg and director of the Centre for Access to Information and Justice, and Jamie Brownlee, Professor of Canadian and International Political Economy at Carleton University. Kevin and Jamie and co-authors of the recent book Psychedelic Capitalism (Fernwood Publishing).
This conversation pulls back the curtain on how billions in private capital, aggressive patenting, and corporate interests are reshaping the psychedelic landscape. We discuss the risks of corporate capture, whether the Western medical model is truly suited for substances with deep spiritual and community-based dimensions, as well as some uncomfortable intersections, including links with far-right movements, digital surveillance, and the hyper-individualistic wellness industry.
Importantly, this discussion doesn’t stop at critique. Kevin and Jamie share more hopeful, just alternatives and explore how psychedelics could be used responsibly as tools for social change.
