Race is a significant factor in psychedelic experiences for racially marginalized populations, yet many studies ignore social categories like race. Drawing on critical phenomenology, anthropology, and psychedelic studies, this article argues that consciousness is fundamentally intersubjective, even during psychedelic-induced experiences. Intersubjectivity enables meaning and socialization, processes enacted through social categories. Therefore, research on psychedelic experiences must account for how social categories shape embodied experiences and their effects. This approach foregrounds identity, power, and context in clinical and naturalistic research.
The field of psychedelic ethics faces a critical juncture due to the harm caused by widespread exceptionalism—the belief that psychedelics are uniquely beneficial or beyond normal ethical scrutiny. Many are now reconsidering psychedelics not only for urgent medical or therapeutic needs but also for broader philosophical and ethical implications, moving away from exceptionalist frameworks toward more balanced, contextual approaches that acknowledge both potential benefits and risks.