6 ms·

Bit of a contrarian take here, but this is the first step towards capitalism getting its grip on a transformative and disruptive thing and coopting it for its p

by Zarath 7y ago

Bit of a contrarian take here, but this is the first step towards capitalism getting its grip on a transformative and disruptive thing and coopting it for its purposes. I'm all for decriminalization, but I get nervous when something subversive becomes just another commodity.

ghostbrainalpha 7y ago
I don't know if that's contrarian really. It's just your basic "My Favorite Band was way better before they got super popular had to go mainstream". And my take is that that argument should probably stick to fashion and cultural issues and stay out of medical discussions.
- pasquinelli 7y ago
  Is it that, or could it be reasonable anxiety about powerful substances becoming an avenue for corporate profit? Opioids are a useful class of drugs, but they've been managed by the profit motive and that's caused havoc that's killed thousands and may leave people who should be on them in terrible pain because of an over correction.
  - spats1990 7y ago
    That's a valid concern, but psychedelics aren't really physically addictive the way opiates are. And given the possible use cases described by e.g. Michael Pollan, it's hard to imagine them being heavily overprescribed by doctors, if they ever even reach the stage of being a generally prescribable drug at all.
dguaraglia 7y ago
This has been a major topic of conversation in the psychonaut community. It seems like the community is better prepared to stave off the capitalist take over. The existence of organizations such as MAPS and others already conducting studies and preemptively creating 'prior art' is a good sign. If you are curious about the topic, I couldn't recommend the Psychedelic Salon podcast enough.
- jboynyc 7y ago
  In a similar vein, I recently read this piece on the imaginary of "acid communism" and why it might be desirable. I can't say I was convinced by it, but I did learn a lot from it. https://communemag.com/cybergothic-acid-communism-now/ https://communemag.com/cybergothic-acid-communism-now/
shaggerty 7y ago
The process you’re describing is called recuperation[1] and I believe your skepticism is well-founded. The effects of these drugs on the human mind and culture is more powerful than any other drug in history. The effects may not be immediate but I believe they will be more dramatic than any other pharmaceutical society has experienced so far. [1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recuperation_(politics) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recuperation_(politics)

by Zarath 7y ago

ghostbrainalpha 7y ago

I don't know if that's contrarian really. It's just your basic "My Favorite Band was way better before they got super popular had to go mainstream". And my take is that that argument should probably stick to fashion and cultural issues and stay out of medical discussions.

pasquinelli 7y ago
Is it that, or could it be reasonable anxiety about powerful substances becoming an avenue for corporate profit? Opioids are a useful class of drugs, but they've been managed by the profit motive and that's caused havoc that's killed thousands and may leave people who should be on them in terrible pain because of an over correction.
- spats1990 7y ago
  That's a valid concern, but psychedelics aren't really physically addictive the way opiates are. And given the possible use cases described by e.g. Michael Pollan, it's hard to imagine them being heavily overprescribed by doctors, if they ever even reach the stage of being a generally prescribable drug at all.

dguaraglia 7y ago

This has been a major topic of conversation in the psychonaut community. It seems like the community is better prepared to stave off the capitalist take over. The existence of organizations such as MAPS and others already conducting studies and preemptively creating 'prior art' is a good sign. If you are curious about the topic, I couldn't recommend the Psychedelic Salon podcast enough.

jboynyc 7y ago
In a similar vein, I recently read this piece on the imaginary of "acid communism" and why it might be desirable. I can't say I was convinced by it, but I did learn a lot from it. https://communemag.com/cybergothic-acid-communism-now/ https://communemag.com/cybergothic-acid-communism-now/

shaggerty 7y ago

The process you’re describing is called recuperation[1] and I believe your skepticism is well-founded. The effects of these drugs on the human mind and culture is more powerful than any other drug in history. The effects may not be immediate but I believe they will be more dramatic than any other pharmaceutical society has experienced so far. [1]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recuperation_(politics) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recuperation_(politics)