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Drugs tend to get a bad rap. At some point in history, most of the psychoactive substances that have long been part of human counterculture and even mainstream society have been thoroughly demonized. Alcohol even made the naughty list here in the U.S. from 1920 to 1933 under the Volstead Act. Ironically, one of the few places you could still legally get a sip of wine during Prohibition was in church.
There are clearly dangers to drug use. There is a fine line between use and abuse, and we humans often struggle to navigate that balancing act. Some drugs are highly addictive, jeopardize our physical and mental health and can have negative and sadly catastrophic impacts even at low dosages. Many of these, such as fentanyl, are synthetic pharmaceuticals that can easily prove fatal. Steer clear.
I want to focus on two of the natural substances that have been much maligned in spite of a laundry list of health benefits — psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana. Attitudes have changed in regard to the latter.
Here in Florida, you can now get a prescription for medical marijuana. I have had my card for three years now, and it has been instrumental for me. After eight years on Citalopram (a synthetic SSRI), I no longer take pills for anxiety and depression.
Marijuana, for me, has proven more effective with fewer negative outcomes. In fact, other than the financial cost (physician appointments and the recurring state fee to legally use it) I can identify no downside. Everyone’s biochemistry is different, and for that reason I cannot recommend it outright. All I can say is that it has been remarkably helpful and enjoyable for me. As Ben Harper says, “it’s a gift from the Earth, and what’s from the Earth is of the greatest worth.”
It has always baffled me that we have the audacity to make a plant illegal.
Psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in certain types of mushrooms (psilocybe cubensis), is likewise a completely natural substance. Unfortunately, along with marijuana, psilocybin is listed as an illegal Schedule 1 drug by the DEA in spite of showing numerous beneficial qualities. Mushrooms are a fungus, one of the oldest and least understood lifeforms on the planet.
Fungi are detritivores, and paved the way for vascular plants nearly half a billion years ago by turning rock to soil. They also create a vast network of filaments called the mycelium that transport nutrients and information. Fungi are truly the foundation for terrestrial life. Psilocybin research has demonstrated that it is effective at treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction and chronic pain. It also promotes neural connectivity and brain function. It literally has the potential to rewire the synapses in your brain if used correctly.
Psilocybin therapy has experienced a successful resurgence in recent years. I am a proponent of wise use of this substance. My experiences tapping into the mycelium throughout the last 38 years have been positively life changing.
I am not encouraging you to use either of these compounds. It is an individual choice, and choices have inherent risk. I am simply sharing what I have learned. What I can say is that I trust the fruits of the Earth with my health and well-being and have little faith in synthetic products and pharmaceutical companies. When it comes to the wholesale naysaying regarding these two holistic medicines, don’t believe the hype. We fear what we do not understand.
Be smart, be safe, do a little homework and do what is best for your personal well-being. Happy trails.
Sam Henderson serves as The Gabber Newspaper’s resident opinion columnist. From 2009-2025 Sam served on Gulfport City Council, first as the Ward IV representative and later as mayor. His views are his alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff, owners, or advertisers. You can reach Sam at any time at sam@thegabber.com. The Gabber Newspaper may use any emails sent to that address in our Voices column; if you do not want your email used, please let him know in the email.
by Sam Henderson
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