I always have had mixed emotions on this holiday, but I did reflect that after 2018, after cannabis became medically legal in my state- I really understood what freedom meant professionally!! Not only was I able to medicate myself the way I preferred to (plants > pills) - I could also now freely discuss the benefits of this plant with my patients!! As you can imagine from 2000-2018, any patient that told me they were using cannabis or had a dirty test I had to tell them the consequences. I followed what my mentors said.... Amotivational syndrome, poor sleep, dependence, withdrawal, fertility issues, gateway drug, legal issues blah ,blah, blah...... (none of that is true BTW, except for legal issues! that is the most common side effect ) Now, I knew how I benefitted- sleep better, anxiety less, mood happy, more creative, funnier, laugh more, appreciate music more, think more, express more, connect more, love more--- but I was just N of 1..... did others get relief? or did they really only want to "get high"? After seeing 38,000 patients with medical MJ experience- I got my answer!! Cannabis is the answer!! Since then there was a global pandemic and lockdown with death, loss, and isolation beyond proportion that our lifetime has never seen. Personally, I also experienced losses and was looking for something more. Where to turn when cannabis is not enough? Do you go back to pills? I knew there was nothing down that road..... I did however, see amazing transformations with IV Ketamine, the legal psychedelic (pharmaceutical), and that really opened my eyes to other "natural" psychedelics. Enter psilocybin! Magic mushrooms? is medicine?! That made me pause more than cannabis is a medicine because I only knew what I was taught in med. school. I understand now the medical community won't recommend anything they can't profit from and you can't patent nature! What does this have to do with Independence Day and freedom? After using mushrooms and some other psychedelics I feel more of excited responsibility to share and educate people on the potential of not only healing but optimal growth and human potential. The right to try act allows doctors to discuss the benefits of experimental medicines, after people have exhausted other options for life threatening illnesses. Mental health issues are life threatening!! We need to treat these issues!! Psilocybin is already fast-tracked by the FDA...