For centuries, humanity has known about psychedelic substances, primarily in the form of hallucinogenic plants and mushrooms. However, serious scientific inquiry into these substances began only in the last 80 years, particularly after the LSD experiments of the 1950s and 1960s in the USA. Following a cultural backlash in the 1970s, psychedelics faced strict legal restrictions, which stifled research until the turn of the millennium.
In the 1990s, the U.S. Congress declared it the decade of brain research, leading to a resurgence of interest in mental health therapies. This renewed focus prompted researchers to explore the potential benefits of psychedelics as alternatives to traditional treatments for conditions like depression and PTSD.
By the mid-2010s, the legal landscape began to shift as numerous studies demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics. Institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London led the way, and by 2020, many prestigious universities worldwide established psychedelic research centers. Research primarily focused on substances like psilocybin, LSD, ketamine, and MDMA.
Despite the promising developments, skepticism remained regarding the reproducibility of positive results. However, recent years have seen significant advancements in clinical trials. In 2023, the biotechnology company Compass Pathways began a large-scale trial across 40 U.S. sites, examining the effects of a single 25 mg psilocybin tablet on treatment-resistant depression, with data collection concluding in July 2025. Similarly, the Usona Institute is conducting a study on 240 participants testing different dosages of psilocybin.
While the movement towards legalization and decriminalization of psychedelics has gained momentum in states like Oregon and Colorado, Canada has implemented a special access program allowing doctors to prescribe psychedelic therapy in specific cases. Meanwhile, Australia has taken a groundbreaking step by reclassifying psilocybin and MDMA to a less restrictive category, allowing their use for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
The past two years have shown that the renaissance of psychedelic medicine is not only possible but is actively unfolding, with ongoing research paving the way for future therapeutic applications.