The Psychedelic Store Experience – Where Imagination Takes Flight
A psychedelic store opens in Manhattan, the first physical space entirely dedicated to psychoactive substances. Founders hope it will become a hub for the community to share ideas and experiences psychedelic shop
Visitors to this fabric store kitty-corner from a Whole Foods might be surprised to learn it's also a psilocybin dispensary. Its employees are trained to educate users about the impact of the setting, wider context and psychological state. Experience the Psychedelics
The first thing you notice when walking into the Psychedelic Store in Portland, Oregon is that it’s not your typical drugstore. Rolls of fabric adorn the walls of the century-old building that once housed a Fabric Depot, located kitty-corner to a Whole Foods market. The shop is slated to become one of hundreds of locations in Oregon where people will be able to legally take psychedelics in early 2021.
A handful of companies are creating the infrastructure needed to offer psychedelic retreats and help consumers navigate the legalization process. These include OM Jungle Medicine, which is opening an ayahuasca-focused clinic in Costa Rica in December, and Synthesis, which has spent $3.6 million on a 124-acre estate in Ashland, Oregon, with forests, meadows and creeks to host its retreat programs.
These retreats can be life-changing, with many people describing a shift in their behavior or mental outlook after the experience. Some recount moments of terror, pain or searing clarity, but for the most part, participants talk about a sense of peace and reconnection with the world.
However, psychedelic experiences come with inherent risks, and people have died from adverse reactions to the drugs. In addition, robberies and sexual assaults have been reported at some retreats. These factors may discourage some people from pursuing the experience, even if it’s offered by a reputable company.
That’s why the Psychedelic Store, which opened this month, offers an educational and safe space to share experiences and educate on psychoactive substances. The staff will answer questions about dosage, safety and best practices when taking psychedelics. They will also provide information on how to navigate the legal landscape, and provide resources and products for those who want to take the drugs responsibly.
But the Psychedelic Store isn’t just a retail outlet—it’s a full-blown experiential marketing project, complete with interactive art and music elements. Meow Wolf worked with over 300 artists and musicians, including Beach House, Amon Tobin, Shrine and Android Jones, to create a one-of-a-kind experience called Omega Mart, which transforms an unassuming supermarket into a mind-blowing immersive environment. Visitors can walk around and interact with the installation, which features a rich narrative and imaginary worlds that feel straight out of H.P. Lovecraft. Shop the Collection
If you’re looking for something to take home with you from your trip to the Psychedelic Store, there are many options available. The store is stocked with items that range from unique jewelry to clothing with colorful patterns and intricate designs. There’s even a variety of books that explore the history and culture of psychedelics. You can find all sorts of different items that are perfect for your home, from rugs and pillows to posters and books. There’s even a selection of psychedelic-inspired artwork, including paintings by Peter Max and iconic album covers from the era.
Whether you’re interested in reading about the history of psychedelics or want to learn more about the potential therapeutic effects, there are a lot of great books to choose from. One of the most popular is The Psychedelic Experience, which was published in 1966 and served as a guide to navigating the spiritual (high dose), therapeutic (moderate dose), and problem-solving (low or microdose) states that can be induced by hallucinogenic drugs. It’s also been reissued this year as part of Record Store Day’s Black Friday event, with a vinyl reissue that includes the book’s accompanying recording.
In addition to the book collection, the Psychedelic Store offers a variety of music that can be purchased as well. You can find everything from psychedelic rock to acid jazz at the store, which is located in the heart of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. You can also find an assortment of psychedelic-inspired clothing at the store, including t-shirts and accessories like hats.
Another option is to visit the SFMOMA, where you’ll find an extensive collection of art that reflects the culture of psychedelia. From paintings by Peter Max to iconic album covers from the psychedelic rock era, the museum has a wide selection of works that will capture your imagination and help you get lost in your own world. There are also a number of other stores and experiences that celebrate the psychedelic movement, from specialty shops that sell psychedelic-inspired clothing to spaces where people can dance and enjoy live music. Meet the Staff
Until recently, the only way for a normal person to take a mind-altering drug was to enroll in a clinical trial or travel to an exotic locale where substance laws are different. As Oregon’s psychedelic industry gets off the ground, however, a handful of entrepreneurs are launching businesses that offer psilocybin in a more consumer-friendly environment.
Founded in 2017 by a former ad executive and an industrial designer, The Psychedelic Assembly offers a range of experiences centered around ayahuasca, a plant used in ceremonies that help people heal emotional trauma. Its co-founders, Michael Lakey and Jason Baker, met during expeditions to the rainforest in Peru, where they spent time with indigenous communities and learned about the plants’ medicinal properties.
The Psychedelic Assembly’s goal is to provide a “sample” of the psychedelic experience for newcomers who want to try ayahuasca but aren’t sure where to start. The company is working to establish a network of certified guides and facilitators who can take guests to a safe place to have the experience.
One of those guiding newcomers will be Myles Katz, who moved from the Netherlands to Oregon in 2020 specifically because of Measure 109 and its promise for a psychedelic industry here. He launched a retreat business that led groups to the Netherlands for multiday, resort-style trips, and he hopes to bring his skills to the state.
But for many would-be trippers, the idea of entering a store where people are buying and selling hallucinogenic drugs is still very strange. When WW visited Zide Door, a self-described Church of Entheogenic Plants in Oakland, last summer, the front door was unmarked and customers made purchases through a private messaging app.
This month, the public opens up to America’s only openly operating psilocybin mushroom shop: Omega Mart. It’s an out-of-this-world experience conceived by Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf (the creators of immersive art experiences like House of Eternal Return in New Mexico) at the AREA 15 arts complex in Las Vegas. This imaginative supermarket is separated into four themed areas and 60 unique environments. Get Involved
The Psychedelic Store Experience isn't a retail store or a retreat center; it is a community and a resource for people looking to take a step forward in their lives. It is a place to come together and support one another and to connect to the deep, healing power of psychedelics, whether for a spiritual journey or to find relief from chronic pain.
Leonie and Baker were inspired to start the Psychedelic Assembly after returning from expeditions in the Peruvian Amazon where they were immersed with traditional plant medicine, specifically the indigenous Ayahuasca, which is used in social, ceremonial or spiritual settings as healing sacraments. The pair has found that there are many people out there searching for a safe container and community for these experiences, which have been largely illegal for so long.
As they began to build the community, they also worked on ways to educate the public about psychedelics and how to use them safely. This included teaching workshops that would help people navigate these experiences and the effects on their mental health, such as self-soothing techniques and meditation.
Eventually, the two found a place in New York City that could serve as their permanent home. It was a space that was once a financial planning office and has wood paneling, fireplaces and a deck out back that is perfect for the kind of psychedelic group therapy they envision.
But there are still obstacles. The most serious concern is that psychedelics can trigger psychotic episodes, particularly for those who are vulnerable to them or already have mental-health conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder. Then there is the issue of power imbalances between patients and facilitators, which can be exacerbated when drugs are used in groups that have sexual undertones or where feelings of arousal are heightened.
Those concerns have led to some regulatory work in Oregon, where the state’s Natural Medicine Advisory Board is working on standards for training programs and determining how to assess facilitator qualifications. But the conversations are just beginning, and it will be some time before those recommendations are implemented.
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