Book Review – Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness by Daniel McQueen
Book Review
Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness
by Daniel McQueen
Published by Park Street Press
240 pages
Publication date: September 28, 2021
“Psychedelic Cannabis: Therapeutic Methods and Unique Blends to Treat Trauma and Transform Consciousness” starts with an impassioned plea from Daniel McQueen: the world is in trouble and trauma is killing us. If we want to save our planet, we need to heal our personal and ancestral trauma, and learn to work together.
In Part One, McQueen introduces cannabis and summarizes why it’s such an important useful plant ally for trauma therapy. He emphasizes the gentle healing nature of cannabis-based therapy – and, with a sense of environmental urgency that recalls some of Terence McKenna’s environmental pleas – McQueen insists that while traditional psychedelics such as ayahuasca and psilocybin mushrooms are extremely useful – we need to embrace whatever possibilities we can to engage with the psychedelic revolution globally, especially those which are available to a wider clientele – such as cannabis.
If you’re an experienced cannabis user who has a traditional reaction to it, you may be saying: “But cannabis isn’t psychedelic.” And under normal circumstances and usage methods, it isn’t. But if it is used with intention, paired with good companion practices, and blended carefully – it can be! In Part Two, McQueen goes into detail about some of the functions of the components of cannabis, discussing different types of cannabis strains, and how mixing together your own blend of different strains can create an entourage effect from the terpenes of each strain and maximize the psychedelic effects of the plant. He also offers a handy trip-killer in the form of CBD, which is usually available wherever weed can be found.
In Part Three, McQueen explores the best ways to prepare for psychedelic cannabis journeying as a practice, and individual sessions as well. He lays out guidelines for intake protocol and offers an intake questionnaire, as well as exploring some basic health concerns and contraindications. He also discusses how spaces should be set up, what resources are necessary, and how to use music to support the journeyer through the experience.
In Part Four, McQueen leads the reader through various practices and protocols meant to guide solitary practitioners and groups, including those which he uses in group cannabis therapy at his Boulder-based psychedelic therapy clinic Medicinal Mindfulness Therapy. McQueen speaks from well-practiced experience both as a guide and as a journeyer, offering advice suitable for both. There are several companion practices which are discussed in this part, including holotropic breathwork, music-guided meditation, awareness practices, and navigating difficult experiences. McQueen offers a good introduction to each of these, along with journeying tips. He offers structured schedules for each type of journey, complete with recommendations for musical guidance, and explains personal self-check-ins and the “Captain Protocol,” techniques which allow the journeyer to guide their own practices safely and with a focus on healing trauma.
In Part Five, McQueen adds an epilogue encouraging the practitioner to take their practice to the next level and outlining plans for creating cannabis therapy-centered communities. The book concludes with a few appendices detailing some additional resources for psychedelic therapy and mental health, and an index.
“Psychedelic Cannabis” is a wonderful introduction to a rarely-explored but intriguing aspect of cannabis medicine and therapy: the psychedelic cannabis experience. While psychedelics are used for various mental and physiological intentions, trauma healing can be a particularly challenging area for the journeyer, and in this area, the gentleness of cannabis really supports the intention for healing therapy. While “Psychedelic Cannabis” certainly can’t do all the hard work of healing trauma for you, the book clearly lays out how psychedelic cannabis therapy can be beneficial, and provides a toolbox of techniques and resources which will be useful to anyone who decides to undertake this practice.
Daniel McQueen is a psychedelic specialist, author, and educator trained in cannabis, ketamine, DMT, and MDMA therapy. He co-founded the Center for Medicinal Mindfulness and created the Psychedelic Sitters School in Boulder, Colorado.
Psychedelic Cannabis on Amazon
About the Author:
Sarah McMenomy is a visionary artist, author, and witch. Pulling inspiration from trance states, dreams, auras, psychedelia, and the natural world, she weaves together themes of nature and the occult in her artwork and writing. She has created art and written for books, magazines, games, and more, as well as producing digital fine art prints and acrylic paintings.
She is the creator of The Entanglement Tarot, a hex-shaped occult Tarot deck designed for spell-craft.
She is co-runner of Pagan Pages, for which she also writes articles and book reviews, and she also publishes art on her Portfolio site and other work on her Tumblr.