The Sweet Spot: Why The Time To Invest In Psychedelics Is Now

By Jeff Stevens, CEO and co-founder of Psyched Wellness

Psychedelics have made their comeback. More than 40 years after the war on drugs shut down all mainstream applications of psilocybin and others, the space is blooming with hope and promise again. We see states in the U.S. adopting and designing laws and regulations that will facilitate the spread of psychedelic therapies. 

There is also a worldwide shift that is hard to ignore: earlier this year, Australia became the first country to recognize several psychedelic compounds as legal for therapy-resistant depression and PTSD. Other nations, Brazil, for instance, have long been pioneers in embracing practices and substances, including psilocybin, most commonly found in “magic mushrooms” or even DMT, the compound found in ayahuasca brews.

Research communities are now expanding the scope of their studies around psychedelics, exploring areas outside psychiatry. Arizona is about to become the first state to sponsor controlled clinical trials of whole psilocybin mushrooms as a recently introduced bill aims to expand research into areas like the treatment of long COVID, among others. These are strong indicators we still don’t know the full potential of these drugs.

And there are other product segments worth paying attention to when it comes to psychedelics. For instance, a new emerging sector focuses on the day-to-day applications of the compounds found in “magic mushrooms” and on products that don’t cause hallucinations but still retain the fungi’s adaptogenic properties: their ability to soothe, relax and support the body. This segment is a safe space for people who want to see if there’s room for psychedelics in their daily lives.

Brave New Investment World

As we are nearing nationwide legalization, most clairvoyant investors are already going after opportunities within the psychedelic space. Even some startup accelerators commonly interested in tech and more traditional consumer goods are joining in hopes of getting a piece of the psychedelic pie. Yes, it may be a young sector, but once the compounds are greenlighted, it will get more competitive in the blink of an eye. 

As the alternative medicinal market expands, exploration of adaptogens is following. A growing focus on health and wellness — from online therapy to wellness officers in corporate America — is boosting the conversation on a renewed investigation of not only how these treatments can work but in how we talk about and market them. 

Various psychedelic mushrooms, Amanita Muscaria being one of them, have the potential to become as common as Lion’s Maine or Chaga mushrooms that have already populated virtual and physical shelves of retail giants such as Amazon and Walmart. And this wellness space is already welcoming investors as they familiarize themselves with innovative products aimed at making people’s lives a tad bit lighter.

Ready, Set, Go?

Despite very promising research and even human trials for some of the compounds, there are still a few hoops our society will have to jump through before we can fully embrace psychedelics. First and foremost, they must survive the regulatory realm. For drugs and therapies that are currently illegal, there is still a hurdle of getting the regulator on board across the country and not just in a few states. And after the substances are legalized, there is a long road to mainstream use that includes establishing rules and facilities, educating therapists, and increasing public literacy. 

And “public” doesn’t just mean people like you and me. It also means advertising platforms like Instagram, YouTube and Twitter among others. And it means retailers of all sizes. With rules largely undefined, even products that don’t possess hallucinogenic properties are being scrutinized almost as harshly as their psilocybin “brothers” and face complications when it comes to advertising and sales. But even with all of these in mind, the wheels are already turning, and just like cannabis has come out victorious in Twitter’s recent decision, so will psychedelic therapies and supplements. 

As for the right time to invest – well, it has already come.