The Psychedelic Science conference, coming to Denver this summer, plans to bring U.S. legislators, scientists, authors, mycologists and more together to discuss the new frontier of psychedelic-assisted therapy and public policy.
The initial lineup, announced Friday, includes Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, former Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio, famed mycologist Paul Stamets, and psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, also author of the book “The Body Keeps the Score.” Pilar Guzmán, editorial director for Oprah Daily, is also listed as a keynote speaker, which is notable because Oprah announced this week she would soon do a podcast episode about psychedelics.
Psychedelic Science returns to the Colorado Convention Center on June 16-20, when both enthusiasts and industry professionals in the space will gather for workshops and panels. Discussions are expected to cover a variety of topics, from business and policy to scientific studies, culture and veterans issues.
Organized by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the conference made its Mile High debut in 2023 and welcomed about 12,000 people. MAPS founder Rick Doblin said by email that the response two years ago proved how the movement behind psychedelic-assisted therapies had grown with bipartisan support and the momentum of policy change. The fact that psilocybin therapy is legal in Colorado is one reason the conference keeps coming back here.
“Psychedelic Science 2025 is about turning breakthroughs into action,” Doblin said. “With rapid progress in research and policy, we’re focusing on real-world impact, ethical expansion, and safety. Hundreds of speakers will present the latest scientific results from both drug development and neuroscience studies, along with lessons from the plant medicine initiatives in Oregon and Colorado and other policy reforms.”
The initial lineup includes more than 50 speakers, but more are expected to be announced in the coming months. See the lineup, so far, here.
