Episode 105

Written By Michaela Carlin
 
 
 
 

What if drug policies were designed to prioritize health and human rights over politics and punishment?

This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Michaela Carlin and Steve Rolles, an advocate for drug policy reform with decades global experience, discuss the need for decriminalization and the thoughtful regulation of psychedelics and other drugs.

You may be asking yourself, “Drug policy reform? Really? Isn’t this a super boring topic?”

Tune in to be proven wrong(!) and hear Steve’s insightful and entertaining insights about the realities of the widespread recreational use of psychedelics, the potential benefits of various decriminalization models, and how policy reform can address the real risks associated with drug use while still promoting safety and harm reduction.

Steve Rolles is the Senior Policy Analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, where he has worked for over 20 years on drug policy and law reform analysis and advocacy, promoting more just and effective drug policies that center public health, human rights and sustainable development. This work includes lead authorship on numerous reports, academic papers, and books, including How to Regulate psychedelics: A Practical Guide. He has served as an adviser and lead drafter for the Global Commission on Drugs, and is acting as a consultant on drug policy and regulation for several European Governments and UN agencies.

Episode Highlights

  • The importance of understanding the diverse motivations behind psychedelic use

  • The need for inclusive drug policy that addresses all forms of psychedelic use

  • Steve's extensive background in drug policy reform and shifts in public perception

  • The resistance from drug enforcement professionals against policy change

  • Political ramifications of drug narratives and fear-based rhetoric

  • The recent FDA rejection of MDMA for PTSD and its implications

  • The media’s focus on clinical research rather than recreational psychedelic use

  • The need for a balanced approach to drug policy that recognizes both therapeutic and recreational use

  • A four-tiered model for regulating psychedelics, emphasizing decriminalization

  • The importance of harm reduction strategies for safe psychedelic use in social settings

  • A comparison between the successful decriminalization of drugs in Portugal with the challenges of decriminalization efforts in Oregon

  • Advocating for a public health oriented approach to drug policy and the failures of punitive measures

  • The relative safety of psychedelics compared to more dangerous substances like opioids and stimulants

  • A call for the psychedelic community to engage in broader drug law reform efforts

Steve Rolles’ Links 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Steve Rolles’ Gift to You

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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.

You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape

Michaela Carlin
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Episode 104