Being Early—And Patient—In Psychedelics

Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance

At the start of the year, I shared my belief that psychedelics were entering a pivotal moment—one where science, sentiment, and politics might finally converge to legitimize an industry long relegated to the fringes. I also pointed out a couple of stocks I found interesting to get exposure to the nascent industry.

No doubt, this corner of my 25 Stocks To Watch For 2025 has been the most volatile and underwhelming year-to-date, while the rest of the list has mostly screamed higher, outperforming the S&P this year by more than 20%. I chose these 3 names in the industry that I still like.

So far, that call has been one of the more volatile and underwhelming parts of my broader outlook. Psychedelics remain a long-dated bet—one that will rise and fall with shifts in regulation, sentiment, and medical adoption.

That’s why I’m revisiting the topic today. If there’s one variable that could dramatically alter the landscape here, it’s regulation. And right now, the political and regulatory conversation around psychedelics is heating up fast—whether through FDA reclassification, state-level decriminalization, or the growing influence of political figures willing to challenge pharmaceutical orthodoxy.

On a personal note, this isn’t just a market thesis for me—it’s rooted in direct experience. I’ve had life-changing moments on psychedelics—deep, guided sessions that altered how I think, feel, and relate to the world in a way no other therapy ever has. They weren’t escapes or experiments—they were intentional, and the clarity and emotional breakthroughs I experienced have lasted years.

As Sam Harris once put it, psychedelics allow you to glimpse an “inner landscape” you might never have known existed. I relate to that deeply. The empathy, awareness, and mental clarity I found through those experiences continue to inform how I move through life today....(READ MY FULL TAKE ON PSYCHEDELICS AND THE INDUSTRY STOCKS I AM WATCHING HERE).