Addiction, psychedelic medicine, legalization and the decriminalization of sex work… Our guest, Randy Hencken, is no stranger to big ideas and challenging the status quo. As we discuss the topic of psychedelic medicines, our conversation naturally transitions to the decriminalization of sex work. Randy's experience with advocacy and political strategy in both fields provides valuable insight into the differences and similarities between these two areas of reform, and how they can inform each other in the pursuit of greater social justice.
“I learned that people aren't evil in most cases, that they just have different opinions they have different values”
Randy Hencken, is a business strategist for Prisms AI and recently a political consultant for Decriminalize Sex Work. He was a co-founder of Blue Frontiers, an organization that aimed to build a floating city in French Polynesia, and previously served as the Executive Director of The Seasteading Institute. In addition, Randy was the Chairman of the Board for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Communication Director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), where he organized the first MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference in San Jose in 2011. He was also the Associate Director for the Ibogaine Association based in Mexico. Randy holds a Masters degree in Communication Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from San Diego State University. He is joining the show to discuss his successful overcoming of addiction to heroin and cocaine using the psychedelic medicine Ibogaine in 2001. Randy resides in Snowmass Village, Colorado with his wife and doodle, and spends as much time as he can outdoors, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and white water rafting. He has led a camp at Burning Man for the past 20 years. He is also hosting two adventures bookending the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver this June, 2023. Learn more at about these excursions at www.ps23co.com
Show notes:
Introducing Randy Hencken
Randy’s battle with Heroin
How Randy kicked the habit with Iboga
Is it time for a psychedelic freedom political party?
Psychedelics have become mainstream now
Adjusting post Ibogaine treatment
The Dangers of Ibogaine and a possible solution
A really clear path between wanting to legalize drugs and decriminalize sex work
Legalization vs. Decriminalization
A case study: New Zealand
Should sex workers be licensed?
The work Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) does
Psychedelic Science 2023 Colorado Mountain Adventures
Links and references:
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From Overcoming Heroin Addiction to Decriminalizing Sex Work – Randy Hencken