Psychedelic Safety Summit to Convene Leaders for Ecosystem

Berkeley, CA - In March 2025, the Psychedelic Safety Institute (PSI), in partnership with the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP), will host a groundbreaking Summit at the UC Berkeley campus to address critical public health challenges in the rapidly evolving psychedelic field. This pivotal gathering represents the first coordinated effort to develop a comprehensive, ecosystem-wide approach to improving psychedelic safety outcomes.

The Summit will unite a diverse group of stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, public health officials, policymakers, executives, community leaders, first responders, and medical associations. Unlike traditional conferences, this outcomes-oriented convening will engage all participants in collaborative strategic workshops designed to forge practical solutions and lasting partnerships.

"This Summit marks a crucial moment for psychedelic care and public health," said Stacey Wallin, CEO and Co-Founder of PSI. "As psychedelic use expands, addressing safety proactively through coordinated, ecosystem-wide action has never been more important."

The Summit aims to establish shared frameworks and commitments for reducing psychedelic-related harms through a collaborative five-year roadmap. Participants will work together to identify critical gaps, define strategic priorities, and develop concrete implementation strategies with clear accountability measures. Summit outcomes will include commitments by participants to take specific actions and the formation of working groups and coalitions to drive ongoing progress through structured cross-sector collaboration. PSI will also produce safety materials to meet the needs of participating stakeholder groups, such as curriculum content, first response protocols, best practice guidelines, educational and wayfinding materials, etc. 

Call for Community Input
PSI is conducting comprehensive stakeholder interviews to shape the agenda and priorities in preparation for the Summit. These interviews will inform the development of the five-year safety roadmap and associated funder education and recommendations to support public health and safety outcomes. PSI welcomes participation from, for example, subject matter experts, individuals with direct experience, and representatives from organizations positioned to address psychedelic safety in any capacity.

"These interviews reflect our commitment to ensure all stakeholder voices are fully heard and included in this strategic process," said Malcolm Garland, COO and Co-Founder of PSI. "This is an extraordinary moment for people from across the ecosystem to inform a collaborative strategy to support the wellbeing of psychedelic users across all use contexts.”

Those interested in contributing their insights through a stakeholder interview are invited to contact interviews@psychedelicsafety.institute by January 24th, 2025. 

About PSI
The Psychedelic Safety Institute is a 501(c)(3) strategy lab co-founded by Stacey Wallin and Malcolm Garland that facilitates ecosystem alignment to collaboratively address critical safety issues related to the expanding use of psychedelics. As awareness has expanded, use and harm rates have correspondingly increased, resulting in increased coverage of harms and the concerns of regulators, media, and the public about safety and misconduct issues. PSI addresses this problem by aligning the psychedelic ecosystem and adjacent stakeholders through shared understanding, coordinated actions, and education. 

About BCSP
The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) is an academic center focused on basic and applied research, community engagement, and public education. The BCSP envisions a world in which advancements in psychedelic scientific discoveries, public education, policy, and practices are informed by diverse perspectives, are evidence-based, and lead to dramatic improvements in health, healing, and well-being. It is devoted to advancing health, healing, and well-being through basic mechanistic research, applied research and policy, journalism, and public education and community engagement.

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