Voices of Esalen Joe Dolce : Modern Psychedelics
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Feb 13, 2026 Joe Dolce, a writer on altered states and author of Modern Psychedelics, offers a clear, informed take on the history, science, and safe use of psychedelics. He recounts formative LSD memories, contrasts cannabis and psychedelics, explores ayahuasca, DMT, ketamine, and mushrooms, debates medicalization versus community care, and emphasizes set, setting, preparation, and integration.
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First LSD Trip At Esalen Baths
- Joe Dolce's first LSD experience happened in the Esalen baths while he was a college student studying the human potential movement in San Francisco.
- He recalls the sensory memory vividly: the waves crashing, a beautiful night and morning that remains etched in his mind.
Cannabis Became A For‑Profit Commodity
- Joe Dolce argues cannabis is not a psychedelic and feels its cultural rollout became overly commodified after legalization.
- He criticizes high-THC cultivation and heavy regulation that sidelined legacy growers and medicinal uses.
Question Who Controls Psychedelics
- Dolce questions who should control psychedelics and leans toward community-based caregiver systems rather than pharma or strictly medical models.
- He notes underground guides often lack accountability, so community systems must include standards and restitution.
