Help me go on a drug-fuelled vision quest... legally
August 1, 2010 9:57 AM Subscribe
Help me go on a drug-fuelled vision quest... legally.
I'm interested in delving deeper into my psychology and traveling inward, taking an intensive retreat to examine my life. Where in the world can I go to take psychedelic/marijuana/etc. drugs, legally?
I'm looking for recommendations for responsible places to do this. For example:
- Peyote in Mexico
- Ayahuasca in the Amazon (Peru, Ecuador, Brazil)
- Marijuana in Amsterdam (Mushrooms in Amsterdam? Not sure if they are legal.)
- I read somewhere that drugs are legal in Portugal?
Location and price (within reason) is no object. I've got vacation time and would like to travel anyway.
I'm especially looking for places where drug use is not only tolerated, but there is some kind of organized system that will make it easy to find, be safe while using it, etc. (like coffee shops in Amsterdam, or New Age-y retreats).
Also, any info on worldwide drug laws (is there one site that consolidates this? Google has failed me.) would be appreciated. Please send links!
I'm interested in delving deeper into my psychology and traveling inward, taking an intensive retreat to examine my life. Where in the world can I go to take psychedelic/marijuana/etc. drugs, legally?
I'm looking for recommendations for responsible places to do this. For example:
- Peyote in Mexico
- Ayahuasca in the Amazon (Peru, Ecuador, Brazil)
- Marijuana in Amsterdam (Mushrooms in Amsterdam? Not sure if they are legal.)
- I read somewhere that drugs are legal in Portugal?
Location and price (within reason) is no object. I've got vacation time and would like to travel anyway.
I'm especially looking for places where drug use is not only tolerated, but there is some kind of organized system that will make it easy to find, be safe while using it, etc. (like coffee shops in Amsterdam, or New Age-y retreats).
Also, any info on worldwide drug laws (is there one site that consolidates this? Google has failed me.) would be appreciated. Please send links!
Mushrooms are legal in Amsterdam, and can be bought in many headshops. (FWIW, my experience was that the few varieties I tried that were touted as being 'medium intensity' were only about as strong as what counts for 'very mild' on the West Coast, from which I hail.)
posted by Beardman at 10:16 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by Beardman at 10:16 AM on August 1, 2010
A few quick thoughts:
Personal amounts of drugs are decriminalised in Portugal. I don't know details, but I think it's still illegal to purchase restricted chemicals.
Lots of places drugs are not legal but their use is accepted. Also, look into things like paan in India and yaba in South East Asia.
I'm pretty sire tourists aren't allowed to buy psychedelic truffles in Holland (mushrooms were recently banned). Of course, both are still widely available.
If you're in the US, you want to look at substances that aren't yet covered by the analogue laws. For example, I don't know whether CP55,940 has been scheduled yet in the US. If so, look at psychoactive JWH compounds. For psychedelics, there are plenty of phenethylamines and tryptamines that are in a legal grey area. For empathogens and stimulants, consider MDPV, desoxypipradrol and obscure beta-ketones. There are some synthetic opiates and benzos that aren't banned yet too. Also, don't forget nitrous, salvia, kratom, DXM, ether, khat, etc.
Erowid is the best course I know about for coverage of international drug laws in plain English but it's woefully incomplete.
posted by turkeyphant at 10:17 AM on August 1, 2010 [4 favorites]
Personal amounts of drugs are decriminalised in Portugal. I don't know details, but I think it's still illegal to purchase restricted chemicals.
Lots of places drugs are not legal but their use is accepted. Also, look into things like paan in India and yaba in South East Asia.
I'm pretty sire tourists aren't allowed to buy psychedelic truffles in Holland (mushrooms were recently banned). Of course, both are still widely available.
If you're in the US, you want to look at substances that aren't yet covered by the analogue laws. For example, I don't know whether CP55,940 has been scheduled yet in the US. If so, look at psychoactive JWH compounds. For psychedelics, there are plenty of phenethylamines and tryptamines that are in a legal grey area. For empathogens and stimulants, consider MDPV, desoxypipradrol and obscure beta-ketones. There are some synthetic opiates and benzos that aren't banned yet too. Also, don't forget nitrous, salvia, kratom, DXM, ether, khat, etc.
Erowid is the best course I know about for coverage of international drug laws in plain English but it's woefully incomplete.
posted by turkeyphant at 10:17 AM on August 1, 2010 [4 favorites]
Not Supplied: "I saw a film about this woman that organises iboga trips in the Netherlands. Looked interesting. Can't find it, so you might have to search."
Forgot to mention this in Canada: http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net/cms/
posted by turkeyphant at 10:17 AM on August 1, 2010
Forgot to mention this in Canada: http://www.ibogatherapyhouse.net/cms/
posted by turkeyphant at 10:17 AM on August 1, 2010
(Mushrooms in Amsterdam? Not sure if they are legal.)
They are. You can find them all over the place, usually under the guise as a "SmartShop" of some kind.
Google is awesome.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:40 AM on August 1, 2010
They are. You can find them all over the place, usually under the guise as a "SmartShop" of some kind.
Google is awesome.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:40 AM on August 1, 2010
Beardman: "Mushrooms are legal in Amsterdam, and can be bought in many headshops."
Sorry, this has changed as of a couple years ago.
posted by yaymukund at 10:41 AM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Sorry, this has changed as of a couple years ago.
posted by yaymukund at 10:41 AM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Though marijuana is illegal in India, it is freely used without repercussions at Shiva pilgrimage sites. (I had this explained to me a number of different ways, but the oversimplified version is that Shiva reclines in luxury in the heavens or the high Himalaya, and your exhaled marijuana smoke is an offering that wafts up to him for his enjoyment. This once led to an incomparable scene in which a Shivaite of my acquaintance, bemused by the North American tendency to hold in the smoke as long as possible, clapped an American backpacker in our little smoking circle on the back in mid-toke, barking, "You have got to give some to Shiva!")
Not surprisingly, several of the most picturesque and atmospheric Shiva worship centres have been prime stops on the backpacker trail since the '60s. Go to Veranasi, Puskhar, Manali or Goa, and you'll find hordes of dilettante Shiva worshippers indulging heavily in the prime ritual of their newfound faith.
In addition to smoking pot, the "bhang lassi" - a marijuana-spiked yogurt shake - is a very popular launch for an evening of questing. And though some of the tourist culture of these places is pretty crass, there really is a lot about a place like Veranasi or Manali that lends itself particularly well to vision questing.
One other scene to investigate, of which I have no direct knowledge but have heard many enthusiastic reviews, is the opium dens of northern Thailand and Laos. Luang Prabang in Laos has achieved particular popularity among backpackers in recent years as a safe, tranquil place to indulge in opium smoking, which pretty much everyone who's ever tried has found to be beyond superlative.
posted by gompa at 10:42 AM on August 1, 2010 [3 favorites]
Not surprisingly, several of the most picturesque and atmospheric Shiva worship centres have been prime stops on the backpacker trail since the '60s. Go to Veranasi, Puskhar, Manali or Goa, and you'll find hordes of dilettante Shiva worshippers indulging heavily in the prime ritual of their newfound faith.
In addition to smoking pot, the "bhang lassi" - a marijuana-spiked yogurt shake - is a very popular launch for an evening of questing. And though some of the tourist culture of these places is pretty crass, there really is a lot about a place like Veranasi or Manali that lends itself particularly well to vision questing.
One other scene to investigate, of which I have no direct knowledge but have heard many enthusiastic reviews, is the opium dens of northern Thailand and Laos. Luang Prabang in Laos has achieved particular popularity among backpackers in recent years as a safe, tranquil place to indulge in opium smoking, which pretty much everyone who's ever tried has found to be beyond superlative.
posted by gompa at 10:42 AM on August 1, 2010 [3 favorites]
The woman in Netherlands doesn't *arrange* Iboga trips. She helps people with addictions. If you want her name and contact info for that purpose - memail me.
posted by watercarrier at 10:51 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by watercarrier at 10:51 AM on August 1, 2010
Surprised no one mentioned Ayahuasca There are complete get-aways into the Amazon, where you go deep into the jungle, meet the shaman, see the ayahuasca being made and then partake in the ceremony, with what supposedly are within safe parameters - there's someone there making sure you don't croke. You really need to do some homework - as there could be changes in management, standards and safety issues that change. Check this to start you rolling in some kind of even keel direction. Google on from there.
Here
Good luck.
posted by watercarrier at 11:00 AM on August 1, 2010
Here
Good luck.
posted by watercarrier at 11:00 AM on August 1, 2010
As mentioned above, salvia is widely available at headshops and nurseries, depending on your area. It can be a very powerful, if short lived, hallucinogenic experience.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:01 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 11:01 AM on August 1, 2010
I stand corrected on the legalities of mushrooms in Amsterdam. My trip (ugh, sorry) was 9 years ago.
I should also mention that I got a hard time from Canadian customs when they found out I'd been in the Netherlands. They badgered me about whether I had purchased drugs there. If you go anywhere with a known drug scene, make sure you're clean as a whistle when you head back home.
posted by Beardman at 11:06 AM on August 1, 2010
I should also mention that I got a hard time from Canadian customs when they found out I'd been in the Netherlands. They badgered me about whether I had purchased drugs there. If you go anywhere with a known drug scene, make sure you're clean as a whistle when you head back home.
posted by Beardman at 11:06 AM on August 1, 2010
Re Salvia - please learn as much as you can about it - Erowid and other forums are good - check out this vid - it's surprisingly informative.
posted by watercarrier at 11:21 AM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by watercarrier at 11:21 AM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I suggest not doing this project alone. When doing these kinds of drugs and don't know how your body will react, it is good to have an experienced but sober person to be close-by in case the experience gets too intense. After you're more experienced, you can run solo, but having help preparing, metering and monitoring can be the difference between an amazing trip and, well, a really bad few hours. Good luck. My suggestion is to consider pot first. It is the weakest of the ones you mention, but will give you an idea of what these experiences are like.
posted by bprater at 11:22 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by bprater at 11:22 AM on August 1, 2010
Unless you live in Arizona or Louisiana, morning glory seeds (which contain LSA) are legal in the US. Good luck finding someone to take you on a vision quest on them, though, as they have quite a reputation as being a drug teens do when they can't get real shrooms.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:29 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 11:29 AM on August 1, 2010
After a mushroom-related death a couple of years ago, mushrooms are no longer legal here in Amsterdam.
posted by Sutekh at 11:50 AM on August 1, 2010
posted by Sutekh at 11:50 AM on August 1, 2010
I got really high off salvia and, on a separate occasion, ground up morning glory seeds a number of years ago. Definitely each was a "drug teens do when they can't get real shrooms." I did NOT like salvia. Morning glory can be really tough on your stomach, but it was really cool once I got it down.
I agree with what others say, though, that you shouldn't try any thing new when you're alone.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:57 AM on August 1, 2010
I agree with what others say, though, that you shouldn't try any thing new when you're alone.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 11:57 AM on August 1, 2010
5MEO-DMT used to be easily available in the States, until a bunch of high-profile Analogue Act prosecutions brought that to a close. However, I've heard there are still a number of countries where it's available, mostly because it's such a niche drug that the majority of people would never even want to do it.
Anybody know which countries are still 5MEO-DMT-friendly?
posted by Sloop John B at 12:08 PM on August 1, 2010
Anybody know which countries are still 5MEO-DMT-friendly?
posted by Sloop John B at 12:08 PM on August 1, 2010
gompa: "One other scene to investigate, of which I have no direct knowledge but have heard many enthusiastic reviews, is the opium dens of northern Thailand and Laos."
You do not want to do drugs in Thailand. Penalties for drug offenses are severe and include the death penalty. Of course, with harsh drug laws and a certain amount of corruption come the quasi-scams: you're under arrest and you can't go free or get your passport back until you pay us $1000, at which point the charges will disappear.
posted by sharkfu at 12:16 PM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
You do not want to do drugs in Thailand. Penalties for drug offenses are severe and include the death penalty. Of course, with harsh drug laws and a certain amount of corruption come the quasi-scams: you're under arrest and you can't go free or get your passport back until you pay us $1000, at which point the charges will disappear.
posted by sharkfu at 12:16 PM on August 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I guess I should clarify that I'm not an addict, so I don't need Iboga to help kick a habit, although perhaps it would work for general psychological exploration; it's a bit unclear to me if it would be helpful in that context.
I'm also not a *complete* novice (although I won't go into more detail!), so I know the importance of safety, monitoring, etc. It's also why I'd prefer a more organized setting with a guide of some sort, in a developed country (the Netherlands), etc.
Bluemorpho tours looks great, as does Tierra Vida Healing. I had found some of those sites, but wouldn't mind links to more if anyone has them. Also, if there is anyone who does those sorts of ceremonies outside the Amazon, that would be great (legal preferred, of course!).
Turkeyphant -- is it possible to buy grey market psychedelics and use them in a more structured setting or do you have to find an (illegal) drug dealer and buy them like party drugs? Would medical marijuana places in the US sell them?
posted by alternateuniverse at 1:51 PM on August 1, 2010
I'm also not a *complete* novice (although I won't go into more detail!), so I know the importance of safety, monitoring, etc. It's also why I'd prefer a more organized setting with a guide of some sort, in a developed country (the Netherlands), etc.
Bluemorpho tours looks great, as does Tierra Vida Healing. I had found some of those sites, but wouldn't mind links to more if anyone has them. Also, if there is anyone who does those sorts of ceremonies outside the Amazon, that would be great (legal preferred, of course!).
Turkeyphant -- is it possible to buy grey market psychedelics and use them in a more structured setting or do you have to find an (illegal) drug dealer and buy them like party drugs? Would medical marijuana places in the US sell them?
posted by alternateuniverse at 1:51 PM on August 1, 2010
Morning Glory seeds are not meant to be taken as-is. In addition to LSA, the seeds contain fatty acids that can cause nausea and vomiting. The LSA can be extracted using fairly basic kitchen chemistry.
Drugs like DMT and ibogaine are not to be taken lightly. They are not comparable to peyote, marijuana, or mushrooms. Make sure you know what you're getting into. Salvia, too, should be regarded with some degree of caution, insofar as its effects can be intense and unpredictable, but they are thankfully short-lived.
posted by dephlogisticated at 1:53 PM on August 1, 2010
Drugs like DMT and ibogaine are not to be taken lightly. They are not comparable to peyote, marijuana, or mushrooms. Make sure you know what you're getting into. Salvia, too, should be regarded with some degree of caution, insofar as its effects can be intense and unpredictable, but they are thankfully short-lived.
posted by dephlogisticated at 1:53 PM on August 1, 2010
Civil_Disobedient: "(Mushrooms in Amsterdam? Not sure if they are legal.)
They are. You can find them all over the place, usually under the guise as a "SmartShop" of some kind.
Google is awesome."
yaymukund: "Beardman: "Mushrooms are legal in Amsterdam, and can be bought in many headshops."
Sorry, this has changed as of a couple years ago."
As I noted above, psilocybin-containing truffles are still legal and available.
watercarrier: "Surprised no one mentioned Ayahuasca"
That's because the OP already indicated a familiarity with it.
spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints: "As mentioned above, salvia is widely available at headshops and nurseries, depending on your area. It can be a very powerful, if short lived, hallucinogenic experience."
An important point to understand about salvinorin A is that it's also strongly dissociative.
alternateuniverse: "Turkeyphant -- is it possible to buy grey market psychedelics and use them in a more structured setting or do you have to find an (illegal) drug dealer and buy them like party drugs? Would medical marijuana places in the US sell them?"
There are psychedelic therapists in the US, though you'd have to find them (and probably get an introduction) yourself. Probably the best idea would be to organise your own "structured settings" a la Shulgin. Unlike most party drugs, they usually come in a pure form which has been tested by GC/MS. I don't think the setting would be any different to, say, smoking marijuana in the Netherlands though.
posted by turkeyphant at 5:54 PM on August 1, 2010
They are. You can find them all over the place, usually under the guise as a "SmartShop" of some kind.
Google is awesome."
yaymukund: "Beardman: "Mushrooms are legal in Amsterdam, and can be bought in many headshops."
Sorry, this has changed as of a couple years ago."
As I noted above, psilocybin-containing truffles are still legal and available.
watercarrier: "Surprised no one mentioned Ayahuasca"
That's because the OP already indicated a familiarity with it.
spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints: "As mentioned above, salvia is widely available at headshops and nurseries, depending on your area. It can be a very powerful, if short lived, hallucinogenic experience."
An important point to understand about salvinorin A is that it's also strongly dissociative.
alternateuniverse: "Turkeyphant -- is it possible to buy grey market psychedelics and use them in a more structured setting or do you have to find an (illegal) drug dealer and buy them like party drugs? Would medical marijuana places in the US sell them?"
There are psychedelic therapists in the US, though you'd have to find them (and probably get an introduction) yourself. Probably the best idea would be to organise your own "structured settings" a la Shulgin. Unlike most party drugs, they usually come in a pure form which has been tested by GC/MS. I don't think the setting would be any different to, say, smoking marijuana in the Netherlands though.
posted by turkeyphant at 5:54 PM on August 1, 2010
Kava
The drug is regularly consumed on various pacific islands. In particular, there are kava bars in Hawaii.
posted by Hither at 6:07 PM on August 1, 2010
The drug is regularly consumed on various pacific islands. In particular, there are kava bars in Hawaii.
posted by Hither at 6:07 PM on August 1, 2010
While it's not legal to grow, you can legally buy mushroom spores in the US.
You don't need Amsterdam for mushrooms when $50 worth of equipment and spores will give you awesome stateside results.
posted by smersh at 1:43 AM on August 2, 2010
You don't need Amsterdam for mushrooms when $50 worth of equipment and spores will give you awesome stateside results.
posted by smersh at 1:43 AM on August 2, 2010
If your concern is mostly with the risk of punishment (versus a moral belief in upholding the letter of the law) then you could just go to Canada. If you are caught in possession of small amounts of marijuana it's likely you won't be prosecuted, and if you were prosecuted, the penalties are much less severe then in the US.
posted by cmyr at 7:47 PM on August 2, 2010
posted by cmyr at 7:47 PM on August 2, 2010
re: blue morpho tours & ayahuasca, i just listened to a podcast you might like where one of the dj's talked about his south american experience.
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:10 PM on August 2, 2010
posted by Rube R. Nekker at 9:10 PM on August 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Not Supplied at 10:16 AM on August 1, 2010