Blowing Glass at Stone Houses

The medicalization and commercialization of psychedelics distance themselves from the contentious history of underground use, serving to signal a nonthreatening stance toward power structures that maintain drug prohibition and to associate any drug-related problems with already stigmatized communities. David Nickles defends the contributions of underground research during prohibition and criticizes corporate designs for psychedelic drugs.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The medicalization and commercialization of psychedelics stand to profit by drawing distinction and distance between their project and the contentious history of underground psychedelic use and culture. This serves at least two functions. First, by jettisoning countercultural baggage, psychedelic advocates signal a nonthreatening stance toward the power structures that enact and maintain the political and racial project of drug prohibition. Second, any problems that might be attributed to aspects of the drugs in question can neatly be associated with already stigmatized communities and individuals. David Nickles has been an unapologetic defender of the contributions of underground research during the decades of prohibition and remains one of the earliest and loudest critics of corporate designs for psychedelic drugs.