HIGH SCIENCE DOOBIE SOCKS 
South by Southwest (SXSW) is calling on the community to help shape next year’s festival—and that includes serious conversations about cannabis and psychedelics. Voting is now open for dozens of panel proposals that explore how plant-based mind-altering substances intersect with culture, justice, science, and innovation.
This year, sixteen of the proposed sessions focus on marijuana while another forty-plus address psychedelics—though both categories are experiencing a bit of a decline compared to previous years. The cannabis-themed offerings include a wide array of topics such as criminal justice reform, agricultural innovation, industry strategies, and creative marketing under tight regulations.
Some standout proposals include:
- Prison Reform and Cannabis: A panel pairing direct-affected advocate Ricky Williams with the Last Prisoner Project to highlight how legalization is leaving behind many incarcerated for marijuana offenses—and what clemency and re-entry support could look like.
- C-Stores and Cannabis Culture: This talks about how hemp pre-rolls, THC drinks, and CBD products are no longer niche—they’re now available at gas stations and convenience stores, signaling growing normalization.
- Marketing Without Advertising: How cannabis and psychedelics brands are finding creative ways to reach audiences when they can’t advertise openly—relying instead on content, community, and creativity.
- Anti-Monopoly in Cannabis: A discussion on how regulation can prevent monopolistic control and ensure small businesses and diverse communities have a seat at the table.
Meanwhile, psychedelic-focused proposals include wild, innovative takes like:
- A Puppet Show on Psychedelics: A creative plunge into art and storytelling using puppetry to spark conversation and imaginative exploration.
- Research for Right to Try: Discussions about making ibogaine available under compassionate, investigational access programs for treating addiction and trauma.
- Peacebuilding with Psychedelics: What if psychedelic-assisted therapy could support healing and reconciliation across cultures, identities, and conflict situations?
- Ibogaine for Pro Athletes with Head Trauma: A powerful debate on how psychedelics like ibogaine are being used to treat sports-related brain injuries—completely rethinking recovery.
These panels are in the running, but they still need your vote. Community support matters: SXSW blends voting totals with expert and staff input to finalize their programming. Voting runs through August 24, and every voice helps decide which conversations make the cut at the 2026 festival.
For cannabis brands and culture advocates like High Science, this is a reminder that reform isn’t just legal—it’s cultural. Fashion, wellness, and education are central to this movement. SXSW’s focus on cannabis and psychedelics shows that public curiosity—and the industry—continues to grow stronger and more diverse.
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