to wonder when it became acceptable for role models to sing the praises of marijuana and psychedelics?

[Namechangethisevening]

Thinking specifically of prince Harry advertising constantly how great marijuana and psychedelics have been for his mental health. But there are other celebs doing this too.

Surely people in the public eye have a responsibility not to spout this?

Illegal drugs are 1. Illegal and 2. Associated with exacerbation of symptoms such as paranoia (Harry take note) in those with MH probs or prone to them.

How on earth is it considered ok for people who some see as role models, to be spouting the virtues of breaking the law and exacerbating MH issues?

And Harry for one claims to be a bit of a MH guru?

Personally I've found the off shroom trip to be greatly beneficial to my mental health. The occasional smoke also lovely. It's not for everyone, sure.

I don't think people in the public eye hold such a responsibility anyway. Fuck that

I am fairly anti drugs for a number of reasons... but I've voted yabu. Mainly because celebrities (and anyone else) are allowed to share their views even if I don't agree with them.

But also because lots of people take drugs. These days, anyone can buy them, from teenagers to their grans by using their mobiles. And they do! It used to be trickier to buy drugs. You needed to know someone etc. But now it's like deliveroo! Especially in London. Coke is absolutely rife. It was never rare but it's positively commonplace now. I don't see how celebrities pretending they've never touched the stuff is helpful or that their experiences were all bad if they weren't.

I don't think it's a good thing that so many people use drugs btw. I really hate drugs. But it would be silly to pretend people don't take them. Like the old "I thought it was a cigarette and took one tote but didn't inhale and didn't like it" line so well-loved by politicians.

Just as gordon above says - since the 60s as far back as I can remember.
Nothing to see here....

Yes, I've noticed more and more celebrities pushing this agenda lately. I find it quite blatant really.

Shrooms and cannabis- I personally don't think should be illegal and plenty of legal highs, alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous

I don't think celebs have any responsibility for modelling them as anything but think it's more common for people to be talking about their benefits these days as we've been moving away from "all drugs bad mmkay"

I do think we need to differentiate between drugs that we know have health benefits and also have some risks to certain individuals

Vs drugs like meth, crack, spice, fentanyl etc which clearly destroy lives and fuel crime

Actually there’s growing evidence of the benefits of psychedelics in treating a range of mental health issues www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/psychedelic-therapy

He's not my role model. I've never before heard him described as a role model. 1/2 the population smells of skunk weed as you walk by & that's since before Prince Harry grew up. Presumably you imagine young people look up to Harry and want to do as he does. You're wrong. Pop stars since way back when have been singing about and openly taking drugs I bet you didn't strike them off your listening list. The hypocrisy of very selective outrage is a nonsense

I did enjoy a micro dot or tab, good fun in a group and had many a good laugh with friends. Nobody tried to fly off a building while tripping. Just good fun.

This.

Taking famous people out of the equation, look into microdosing for mental health issues and heroic dosing in clinical settings helping people with PTSD, treatment resistant depression and OCD. If you’re interested in learning more, look into UK research, Synthesis retreat in the Netherlands and the Netflix documentary ‘How to Change Your Mind’.

Shrooms are illegal here and I can still legally go to Synthesis. It’s no different for him. There are Canadian companies overtly selling them like supplements in nice packaging and whatnot because of changes to the enforcement of their laws and that’s not far from the US’s door.

You can get ketamine infusions here from specialist doctors so it’s probably only a matter of time before that opens up to psilocybin, LSD, etc. anyway.

Obviously, there’s risk involved but psychedelics sure seems to help a lot of people (when they can access them).

And I absolutely cannot stand Harry and his repetitive whinging and hypocrisy so this is not about white Knighting for him!

This

You high OP?

I don't know why people are so obsessed with the legality and illegality. It bears no relations to the relative harm, effectiveness, monetisation or anything else. It's a hodgepodge of racism, commercialism, timing, war, colonialism and control.

Queen Victoria used anything she could get her hands on. The Nazis were al on crystal meth. Fentanyl (legal medicine) is making whole countries sick. Elvis fought against drugs while being high as a kite.

What we actually need is a proper conversation about harm, and how to prevent it. Legality has very little to do with that. Well, I'd argue it actually does, but only in a role of preventing and punishing abuse which leads to trauma which leads to addiction. Stop chasing drug addicts and dealers and start chasing abusers. That's how you prevent addiction.

He isnt microdosing nor is he doing it for mental health he is getting high a d promoting it 🤷‍♂️ we know there are benefits we also know for many people it can be life changing in the wrong way psychosis is real and more likely to happen with what you buy on the streets which is what he had

I think its wrong for anyone to promote an illegal drugs lifestyle for your "mental health"

Promote legal drugs and therapy yes absolutely (but they were illegal where he was taking them)

Quite frankly I think shoving chemical substances into your face and body in the name of 'beauty' is far more harmful than consuming some digestible plants and fungi for a bit of a change.

But each to their own.

I don’t think anyone would say that Harry has great mental health 🤔

Harry isn’t a ‘role model’. He’s a thick, over-privileged prat.

Errrm... Back in the sixties? Where have you BEEN? Celebrities have been pretty open about drug use for decades.

My parents were proper hippies in the sixties and grew dope on their window sills. I once had a wanky boyfriend ask my mum what her chosen high was and was horrified when she seriously answered "opium" because she loved the opium dens they frequented on their travels in the far east back in the late sixties and early seventies. My mum had a spliff to relax her before bed for years and years.

Funnily enough, their lax attitude to drugs made me very non bothered about them and have merely dabbled in them very occasionally, although I feel I would have liked to have experimented more with E's as every time I had a quarter or a half it was pretty joyous.

I'm very interested in edibles and micro dosing though. And drugs have played a major role in creative industries for so many years now. Their influence is HUGE. And I, for one, am very grateful for that.

Why are you assuming he wants to be a role model? Celebs/famous people/royals aren’t automatically role models just because they are well known

Since at least the 1920's.

Have you not encountered popular cluture before OP?

Apart from anything else if we are to accept Harry is a role model then how do we explain to young boys that emulating Harry won't make them a prince nor any trappings of the wealth and power pivotal in making Harry who is literally is?

Okay :) I guess I'm BU!! 👍

(I do think there are some public figures though, especially those spouting MH advice, that should set a better example. H being one)

’more recently Howard Marks’
He died in 2016, so not that bloody recent 😂😂

I think there's a lot to unpick here. Firstly, prohibition doesn't work. The countries where drug use aind addiction are treated as medical rather than criminal law issues have better outcomes than prohibition focused countries like the UK.

Secondly, today's illegal drug is tomorrow's next treatment for some form of ill health. Ketamine and mushrooms are currently being researched as treatments for depression and PTSD and the results are looking promising. We already know about the benefits of cannabis derivatives on epilepsy and other seizure disorders. An ongoing focus on criminalisation risks stifling medical research and innovation.

Lastly, nobody is under any obligation to be a role model. People are allowed to have lives. We should all stop being obsessed with celebrities.

Role model? he's a fruit loop and certainly no role model of anyone I know

Couldn’t agree more.

There are psychedelic research centres at many respected universities in the UK and US, including Exeter and Imperial. The empirical data for their efficacy in treating many mental and physical health conditions is strong and improving all the time.

The legality/illegality issue is pretty arbitrary, and not connected to harm caused. Think how many people fuck themselves up with legal alcohol and prescription painkillers.