When I was 12 years old back in 1962, my mother died, and I stopped eating. Because ofmy lack of food, I developed amenorrhea—I no longer had my period. I was told I would never have children. No one had ever heard of anorexia.

Fast forward to my college years and being introduced to a psilocybin experience. That night, under the influence of mushrooms, I had a period. Two years later my son was born.

Emotions and brain function are positively altered up to one month after a single dose of psilocybin. Anxiety and depression are reduced for as long as six months. Long-lasting beneficial effects help people with life-threatening illness. Psychological flexibility is increased, along with feelings of personal meaningfulness, resulting in an improved mental outlook. 

And yet, psilocybin is illegal under federal law and is classified as a schedule 1 controlled drug, which means jail time. My home state of Vermont is preparing to make magic mushrooms legal, and the rest of the country should follow suit.

Hundreds of clinical studies are confirming the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy as “a promising adjunct to psychotherapy.”

Gary Fisher, inventor of the modern mountain bike, believes that “with psychedelics, if you’re fortunate and you have a breakthrough, you understand what is truly of value in life.

Materialism power, dominance and territory have no value. People wouldn’t fight wars, and the whole system we have currently would fall apart. People would become peaceful, loving citizens, not robots marching around in the dark with all their lights off.”

When humans can freely use psilocybin to understand and embrace true consciousness and thereby expand their psyches toward enlightenment, this will be the moment in human history where love transcends all else. Magic mushrooms might just be our species’ salvation.