Jishan Chowdhury often emphasizes that the technologies used by his startup are nothing revolutionary. Mescaline, a compound recently developed by Journey Colab, is primarily known as the psychedelic component of peyote.
«While it may seem like a new trend, it actually has a millennia-long history of use by indigenous peoples» — Chowdhury notes.
The recent boom in interest in psychedelics has spurred a rapid search for and patenting of new chemicals with similar properties to ancient herbal remedies.
This situation raises the traditional concerns associated with big pharma, from rising treatment prices to the dominance of business over traditional users through monetization of products.
«While it may seem like a new trend, it actually has a millennia-long history of use by indigenous peoples» — Chowdhury notes.
The recent boom in interest in psychedelics has spurred a rapid search for and patenting of new chemicals with similar properties to ancient herbal remedies.
This situation raises the traditional concerns associated with big pharma, from rising treatment prices to the dominance of business over traditional users through monetization of products.
Journey Colab, which is researching mescaline as a treatment for substance use disorders, has taken an unusual approach since its founding in 2020, with 10 percent of its startup capital placed in a perpetual trust fund managed by indigenous people. «It's really ownership» — Chowdhury emphasizes.
About five years ago, Chowdhury, who grew up in a deeply religious Muslim family, had little interest in drugs. However, he soon realized that they could be his salvation. «I was living in two parallel realities» — he says.
In 2017, he had already earned his MD from the University of Alberta and his PhD. After earning a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford in medical informatics, he left his medical residency to found, develop and market his first startup, a digital platform that helps organize medical care in hospitals.
About five years ago, Chowdhury, who grew up in a deeply religious Muslim family, had little interest in drugs. However, he soon realized that they could be his salvation. «I was living in two parallel realities» — he says.
In 2017, he had already earned his MD from the University of Alberta and his PhD. After earning a Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford in medical informatics, he left his medical residency to found, develop and market his first startup, a digital platform that helps organize medical care in hospitals.
Still, he was going through a serious mental health crisis. «I felt like I was drowning» — he shares. While traditional treatments like antidepressants and talk therapy brought some relief, they seemed like temporary lifelines. When he sold his first company, he says, «I wanted to leave everything behind and drown».
In desperation, he tries psychedelic therapy for the first time.
«In this particular state of consciousness, the murky waters in which I had been drowning my whole life suddenly became clear» — he notes.
He decided to undergo training in psychedelic integration, a process that integrates the ideas and feelings generated during the journey with everyday life, and was surprised by the magnitude of the work required to connect ancient traditions with modern scientific understanding.
In desperation, he tries psychedelic therapy for the first time.
«In this particular state of consciousness, the murky waters in which I had been drowning my whole life suddenly became clear» — he notes.
He decided to undergo training in psychedelic integration, a process that integrates the ideas and feelings generated during the journey with everyday life, and was surprised by the magnitude of the work required to connect ancient traditions with modern scientific understanding.
Journey Colab's focus on mescaline may help deepen understanding of its effectiveness. Previous studies on mice have shown that the compound increases neuroplasticity for about five or six weeks, while the effects of ketamine will diminish after a few days, and MDMA and psilocybin are effective for about two weeks. Now Journey Colab aims to quantitatively evaluate how mescaline may help treat alcohol addiction.
Despite the promising results, Chowdhury calls Journey's offerings «psychedelic treatments» rather than simple therapy sessions. He believes that due to their risks, taking such procedures seriously should be similar to surgery, and requires individualized support and therapy to be effective.
«It is crucial for us to learn from people who have successfully integrated these powerful tools into their lives, culture and society. This is done with ritual and respect» — he emphasizes.
Despite the promising results, Chowdhury calls Journey's offerings «psychedelic treatments» rather than simple therapy sessions. He believes that due to their risks, taking such procedures seriously should be similar to surgery, and requires individualized support and therapy to be effective.
«It is crucial for us to learn from people who have successfully integrated these powerful tools into their lives, culture and society. This is done with ritual and respect» — he emphasizes.
Affordable ketamine
Courtney Watson assumed she would focus on writing her dissertation, but an unplanned encounter in 2018 changed her plans. A licensed marriage and family therapist, Watson was moderating a panel discussion at the BIPOC professionals conference when a stranger, who came to the event because he thought it was about techno, invited her to meet the psychedelic therapy community.
The offer intrigued her. Watson first learned about psychedelic therapy in graduate school around 2011, when interest in drugs was just beginning to revive.
In a class on addiction, her professor pointed out that many illicit substances were once used for therapeutic purposes and continued to be researched by scientists until the War on Drugs stopped that research.
Courtney Watson assumed she would focus on writing her dissertation, but an unplanned encounter in 2018 changed her plans. A licensed marriage and family therapist, Watson was moderating a panel discussion at the BIPOC professionals conference when a stranger, who came to the event because he thought it was about techno, invited her to meet the psychedelic therapy community.
The offer intrigued her. Watson first learned about psychedelic therapy in graduate school around 2011, when interest in drugs was just beginning to revive.
In a class on addiction, her professor pointed out that many illicit substances were once used for therapeutic purposes and continued to be researched by scientists until the War on Drugs stopped that research.
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After listening to a new acquaintance with a passion for techno, Watson attended a conference on psychedelics. While she was interested in the cultural aspects of BIPOC and marginalized communities, she was struck by how much was said about LSD and psilocybin.
«These drugs seem designed for white people. Our culture doesn't intersect with them» — she said.
But then the speakers talked about how these substances can help treat PTSD. Watson knew that marginalized communities have higher rates of the disorder — for example, a 2016 study found that more than a quarter of depressed black women in Oakland suffered from PTSD — but no one on stage mentioned it.
Shortly after the conference, she signed up for training in psychedelic therapy. «I realized: there is a wonderful opportunity for healing here, and no one in this community lacks that knowledge» — Watson wrote.
«These drugs seem designed for white people. Our culture doesn't intersect with them» — she said.
But then the speakers talked about how these substances can help treat PTSD. Watson knew that marginalized communities have higher rates of the disorder — for example, a 2016 study found that more than a quarter of depressed black women in Oakland suffered from PTSD — but no one on stage mentioned it.
Shortly after the conference, she signed up for training in psychedelic therapy. «I realized: there is a wonderful opportunity for healing here, and no one in this community lacks that knowledge» — Watson wrote.
In 2020, Watson founded Doorway Therapeutic Services, a clinic offering ketamine therapy in Oakland. It was created with a focus on the queer community and BIPOC people.
In her practice, she seeks to rethink the traditional approach to individual therapy. For example, she notes that traditional rituals involving mind-altering substances like ayahuasca typically involve entire families and communities who have been learning these practices together for generations.
Watson also hopes that traditional herbalists will gain the same recognition and legal standing as their traditional therapeutic counterparts. «It may seem confusing at first, but I believe we can achieve it» — she notes, referring to the paradigm shift regarding drugs.
In her practice, she seeks to rethink the traditional approach to individual therapy. For example, she notes that traditional rituals involving mind-altering substances like ayahuasca typically involve entire families and communities who have been learning these practices together for generations.
Watson also hopes that traditional herbalists will gain the same recognition and legal standing as their traditional therapeutic counterparts. «It may seem confusing at first, but I believe we can achieve it» — she notes, referring to the paradigm shift regarding drugs.
Watson emphasizes that much more change is needed in psychedelic therapy — from including more BIPOC representatives to reducing the high cost of treatment — than one person can make.
In collaboration with writer Isaiah Jam-Everett and activist Kufikiri Imara, she participated in the first plant medicine conference, Our Own Table, where important issues were discussed. The program brought together black artists, scientists, doctors, cultivators, and spiritual leaders to imagine what black-led psychedelic spaces could look like.
In collaboration with writer Isaiah Jam-Everett and activist Kufikiri Imara, she participated in the first plant medicine conference, Our Own Table, where important issues were discussed. The program brought together black artists, scientists, doctors, cultivators, and spiritual leaders to imagine what black-led psychedelic spaces could look like.
For now, Watson is doing her best for Doorway. She's working to strengthen her team and focus on staff well-being, which requires support from a clinic that charges market rate for ketamine therapy-the cost of a full course of treatment exceeds $5,000, paid for out of her own funds.
Recognizing that the high cost limits access to therapy, Watson, still a PhD candidate at Widener University, founded Access 2 Doorways, a nonprofit organization that helps fund clinics run by BIPOC staff and thus facilitates access to psychedelic therapy. It's necessary. And we can't accomplish it if we don't offer it to people.
Recognizing that the high cost limits access to therapy, Watson, still a PhD candidate at Widener University, founded Access 2 Doorways, a nonprofit organization that helps fund clinics run by BIPOC staff and thus facilitates access to psychedelic therapy. It's necessary. And we can't accomplish it if we don't offer it to people.