Trip or Truth?

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain,” shouts the Wizard of Oz as he turns knobs to create flames in his castle of green. It didn’t take long for Dorothy to recognize that the man behind the curtain was peddling lies to fool a whole city of people. Much like this scene, the American people are encountering a big, green monster emitting horrible-smelling smoke and its toxic partner that seek to hoodwink people of all ages and backgrounds. The monsters are the twin menaces of marijuana and psychedelic drugs.

Big pharma received a reality check last year when President Donald Trump signed an executive order to make pharmaceutical drugs more affordable. Americans were getting ripped off by being charged higher costs than in other countries around the world. In fact, the United States subsidized three-quarters of pharmaceutical profits with only five percent of the world’s population. The Health and Human Services Secretary was tasked with facilitating more direct-to-consumer purchasing and establishing rules around importing and exporting affordable medicines. The website TrumpRx.com was established to find discounted drugs. However, recent actions in the Trump administration have given the pharmaceutical industry new drugs to market that will ultimately make up for lost profits.

Last Friday, President Trump announced a new executive order. He ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner to categorize psychedelics as “Breakthrough Therapy,” authorizing a fast-tracked approval process. He also directed the Health and Human Services Secretary to allocate $50 million in matching funds to research experimental psychedelic treatments for people with mental illnesses. Celebrity podcaster Joe Rogan stood by his side while President Trump signed the order and many Republican lawmakers issued statements of support. However, they are all turning a blind eye to the devastating side effects of these drugs, the predatory behaviors of the drug industry, and the door this opens for full legalization.

Psychedelic drugs such as ibogaine and ayahuasca have been trending in popularity over the last several years. Since these drugs are not legal in the U.S., Americans have had to travel to different countries to participate in so-called “retreats.” These retreats can be week-long drug-induced trips where a shaman leads them through their hallucinations. This dissociative experience is marketed as a way to cure addictions, find oneself, and relieve post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). The experience itself, though, can be horrific. Often, the body undergoes a detoxification with vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration. Many users have reported intense hallucinations — such as being possessed by demons — which cause panic attacks and rapid heart rates. For some, these symptoms do not go away after the experience is over, leaving them with permanent psychosis and visual disturbances.

The new executive order coincides with the Trump administration’s reclassification of marijuana. Last December, the President directed the FDA to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Despite marijuana’s high potential for abuse, the FDA began taking steps to remove certain restrictions on the drug. Axios announced on Wednesday that the formal reclassification could come as soon as this week, which means the required public comment period for formal rulemaking could be ignored. Eliminating the standard rulemaking process, where individuals can submit comments after a published evaluation of the drug’s harms and benefits, means Americans will be effectively silenced on this issue.

Eagle Forum’s Chair Anne Schlafly recently wrote the Daily Signal column, “America, You Have a Weed Problem.” She describes the little-known side effects of THC use, including miscarriage caused by defective sperm, suicidal ideation, schizophrenia, and more. She points out that while some claim pot use helps conditions like pain relief, anxiety, and insomnia, research shows marijuana can actually make these problems worse. She states:

These potheads are like the drunks who self-medicate with bourbon; everyone recognizes that the bourbon is not a genuine medicine that aids in their recovery. Addicted people are easing their withdrawal symptoms, not treating the underlying causes for their addiction. 

U.S. military veterans are being used as props for both initiatives. The fact sheet for the President’s executive order on psychedelics explains that for the last 20 years, over 6,000 veteran suicides have occurred each year. Every one of these deaths is a tragedy. Veterans’ mental health has also been cited as a reason to reclassify marijuana. What is not mentioned is the risk of further mental health disorders. Dr. Drew recently brought this up on the Peter Boghossian podcast, where he said, “The question that consistently comes up, though, is at what risk, okay? What are we risking? And who are the patients we select to take that risk?” Politicians should not enact policies that risk inflicting more suffering on those who serve our country. In addition, some veterans taking their own lives have been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder.

Both marijuana and psychedelic drugs are just band-aids for deeper underlying issues. These drugs might provide temporary relief from pain or depression, but they do not correct a person’s everyday circumstances or cause a person to make good decisions. Even proponents are leery of how the drug is being legalized. An op-ed co-written by a psychedelic practitioner in the public health news outlet Stat warns that simply legalizing these drugs without additional structure is dangerous. He writes:

The strongest predictor of sustained recovery from addiction is social support: stable relationships that provide belonging, accountability, and emotional care. People recover when they are held in networks of connection that reinforce a different way of living.

In other words, strong families, communities, and churches are better predictors of successful outcomes. The federal government, by making these substances easier to get, is sending fragile minds down the wrong path.

Congress is currently working on several “must-pass” bills that would be easy avenues to enact these dangerous drug policies. The reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act, the Farm bill, and Appropriations bills are a few vehicles that could be used to blow the doors wide-open on federal approval and funding of psychedelics and marijuana. Eagle Forum is working with leadership in both the House and Senate to oppose any such legislation. For further reading on marijuana, check out this month’s Eagle Forum Report, “Wrong Way on the High Way” and Anne Schlafly’s newest book, Throwing Children Under the Cannabis.