In Drugreporter’s interview from Psychedelic Science 2025, Rick Doblin looks back on four decades of psychedelic activism and discusses the future after the FDA’s MDMA therapy rejection.
Rick Doblin is the founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, MAPS. He has been a leading voice in advancing psychedelic research and therapy for decades. In our conversation, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, he shares his vision for integrating psychedelics into mainstream culture and mental health care. We discuss how he sees the state of the movement after 40 years of activism, and what the future may hold following the FDA rejection of MDMA assisted therapy approval.
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Find more inspiring stories and articles about psychedelic science here! This video is part of our Drugreporter Café series, where we discuss new developments in drug policy with professionals, activists, and decision makers.
It was an absolute honour to attend and film the world’s largest gathering of the psychedelic science community — Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver, Colorado. We are grateful to the many outstanding scientists, healers, and activists who shared their wisdom with us. Watch our short documentary “The Psychedelic Renaissance is Alive and Well” to learn more!
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