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A comment on We can no longer ignore the potential of psychedelic drugs to treat depression. Parent comment

Re:We can no longer ignore the potential of psychedelic drug... by bananamerica on Monday June 08, 2020 @05:44PM (#23461145)
I know plenty of close minded people that took psychedelics. I could even argue that psychedelic users tend to be more close minded than the rest of the population —- their religious devotion to these drugs is to me a great example of fundamentalism and rigidness of thought, and the notion that these drugs can be nothing but good betrays arrogance (since insight inherently positions them above the “square” masses that did not take the red pill). I don’t like when religious leaders tell me how I should experience life, and some of the rhetoric by psychedelic users is worryingly similar.

I could also use philosophy to question the very nature of these insights. On what basis does one affirm psychedelic trips provides greater access to reality than regular conscious states?

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Re:We can no longer ignore the potential of psychedelic drug... by looper_dude on Monday June 08, 2020 @06:40PM (#23461586)
No one should be telling you that you have to take them, that's as wrong as forcing your religion on somebody. You do you. And as I said, it isn't for everyone.

There's enough research and annecdotal evidence to show that there are indeed positive effects for a lot of people who take them, however.

Certainly, if you're not open to reflecting, you're not going to not going to come to any realization no matter how stoned or sober you are.

And no, I wouldn't say psychedelics get you access to some hidden realty. We all have access to the same thing, they just make it easier to access more of it quicker than if you, say, spent ten years of your life meditating every day. As I said, it's a shortcut, and for some people it can be the kick in the pants that they need to get the ball rolling.

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Re:We can no longer ignore the potential of psychedelic drug... by bananamerica on Monday June 08, 2020 @07:15PM (#23461834)
Oh yeah there are lots of evidence showing psychedelics can be useful for sure. I just don’t have much patience for religious zealots, even when they’re part of my own religion.
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