Why Psychedelics Are Illegal: The Hidden Truth About Consciousness and Control
Written by Callan Hansen | Published on
If psychedelics can help people heal, reconnect, and grow, then why are they still illegal?
The government likes to say it's for safety, but let's be honest—it's never been about safety. Psychedelics aren't dangerous to the people who use them. They're dangerous to those in power. Why? Because psychedelics do more than just alter your mind. They change the way we see the world. They challenge everything—the system, our identities, the way we live, and even the very idea of “self.” And that's what really scares the ones in charge.
When you take a psychedelic, it's like the walls around your mind start to crumble. Suddenly, everything you thought was fixed becomes fluid. Your perspective shifts, and you start realizing that the life you've been living might not be the only way, or even the right way. You start seeing things as they really are—not just through the lens you've been taught to look through. And that? That's terrifying for those in power. Because once we start questioning the world around us, there's no going back.
The Subconscious Script We Live By
From the moment we're born, we're handed a script: work hard, climb higher, be the best. We're told that buying more makes us happy, and to just trust the system—it knows what's best for us. This isn't just apparent; it's ingrained into the very fabric of our lives, shaping our beliefs and actions without us even realizing it. It's in the ads we see, the stories we hear, and the expectations placed on us by family, school, and society. It's a constant message that tells us success means more money, more possessions, more power.
But there's a deeper, more subconscious script that runs in the background—one that divides us. We're taught to see ourselves as individuals battling for success, competing for status, isolated by our differences. The system subtly trains us to believe that some are “better” than others, and that we're somehow separate from the people around us. These divisions are reinforced by the media, education, and even social media. We're constantly told that our worth is measured by how much we own, how much we earn, and where we fit within the social hierarchy.
This isn't just social division—it's a psychological one. We start believing that we have to outdo others, that we must strive to be the best at all costs. This mentality not only fuels competition but also feeds into our egos, locking us into a narrow, isolated view of the world. We forget that we're all interconnected. This isn't just the way things are—it's the way we've been conditioned to think.
But psychedelics? They don't follow that script. They don't make you a better worker or a more obedient citizen. They shatter the illusion, showing you that there's a much bigger picture out there—one we've been told to ignore. Psychedelics tear down those subconscious walls, reminding us that we're not isolated beings, but part of the same whole.
I'll Never Forget My First Experience with Salvia
One second, I was just Callan—someone with my identity and my life. The next, I wasn't. I wasn't a name or even a person at all. I was part of everything. It was like I had become the universe itself, like I was experiencing time itself. I wasn't just existing—I was existence. And that shift? It wasn't just some weird feeling—it was something I knew to be true. It was like I had stumbled upon some deep, sacred knowledge, something long forgotten, and it was both jarring and incredibly funny.
In that moment, I understood that we're all connected. There's no real separation between me and you, me and nature, or me and the world. We are all one, all part of the same moment, as if we're experiencing all of existence at once, manifesting through these separate beings.
Once you experience that, you start asking some big questions—questions the system doesn't want us asking. Why do we value profit over people? Why are we stuck in these endless cycles of competition and ego? Why are we so disconnected from nature, from each other, and even from ourselves? These aren't just abstract thoughts—they're radical questions that challenge everything we've been taught. They make us rethink how we live, how we treat each other, and how we treat the planet. And once you start questioning these things, there's no going back.
The System Feeds on Division
We live in a world built on separation. Governments, corporations, and institutions need us to feel isolated. To believe that we're different, that we're “better” or “worse” than someone else. They want us to identify with our job titles, our social status, or our political affiliations. They want us to feel disconnected from each other, from the Earth, and from the larger universe. They shape our lives through the products we buy, the jobs we have, and the way we are taught to think about ourselves. The very act of branding and marketing is designed to make us feel incomplete, so we'll buy more and compete harder.
But psychedelics? They don't care about your job title or how much money you make. They tear down the walls that keep us apart and remind us that we're all part of the same whole. Psychedelics don't reinforce division—they help us see beyond it. They break apart our egos, reminding us that we're connected to everything. We're not separate beings battling it out against each other. We are part of one interconnected web, each of us experiencing life in different ways, but all united in the same truth.
And that? That's terrifying for the system. The system thrives on division—it needs us to stay in our boxes. It needs us to feel disconnected so we'll keep working, consuming, and following orders. Psychedelics don't just challenge our identities—they challenge the system itself.
It Was Never About Safety
Look, the same people who criminalize psychedelics are the same ones profiting off substances like alcohol, nicotine, and prescription drugs—things that kill millions of people every year. These substances don't just harm individuals; they harm entire communities. But somehow, the government is fine with that. If they really cared about safety, why are these substances legal and profitable, while psychedelics remain illegal?
The answer is simple: money. The substances that harm people keep us numb, distracted, and dependent. Alcohol and cigarettes pacify our dissatisfaction and keep us plugged into a system that thrives off our complacency. Psychedelics don't fit into that system. They wake us up. They encourage creativity, healing, and growth. They challenge the status quo—and that's why they're illegal—not because they harm us, but because they remind us of our true potential.
So, what can we do about it? We don't wait for permission. We don't let the system control the conversation. We don't let fear or ignorance hold us back from speaking our truth. We keep talking about it. We share our experiences. We educate, we question, and we challenge the status quo. But more than that, we live our truth.
Once you've seen beyond the illusion, you can't unsee it. And that's exactly why psychedelics will never go away. People are waking up, and once the veil is lifted, there's no going back.
So, let's keep moving forward. Let's stand up for what's real. Let's build communities of like-minded people who aren't afraid to ask the tough questions. Let's create spaces for healing, for growth, and for change. Because the more we awaken to our interconnectedness, the more we'll see the power we have as individuals and as a society to transform the world.
Together, we can wake up the world—one question at a time.