There are reasons that two government entities have acknowledged and offered guidance on the use of psychedelics. As we have detailed, widespread mental health problems, which began well before the pandemic but had a step function increase in severity and extent during the pandemic, are now manifesting in more severe consequences, including rising rates of depression, anxiety and suicides. In addition, various studies have shown that people with difficult-to-treat psychological diseases can benefit from using psychedelic drugs when other
therapies have failed. We have been chronicling shifting attitudes toward illegal drugs, including the increasing number of states that have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational uses. With solid evidence of the medical benefits of psychedelics, this class of drugs is following a similar trajectory.