Psychedelic risks and benefits: A cross-sectional survey study.
Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) May 1, 2025 Sean P Goldy, Benjamin A Du, Julia S Rohde et al. 15 citations
Classic psychedelics carry both greater acute challenging effects and persisting negative effects compared to cannabis, but also produce greater positive acute and persisting effects. In two studies using quota-based sampling to approximate US Census demographics, participants reported on their first or most memorable experiences with either substance. Predictors of psychedelic outcomes—such as dose level, presence of others, religiosity, and personality—explained only a small degree of the variation. The findings offer a more nuanced characterization of the risks and benefits of psychedelic experiences relative to cannabis.