#219 - Inside Michigan’s Psychedelic Movement

The Cole Memo

In this episode, Cole sits down with Michigan drug policy advocate Julie Barron for an honest conversation about the state of psychedelic reform, community burnout, and the challenges of staying grounded when a movement starts to fracture. They discuss Ann Arbor’s unique culture, the evolution of Hash Bash, and how grassroots momentum led to real drug policy wins across multiple cities. Julie opens up about the emotional toll of advocacy, the infighting that derailed local efforts, and a recent wave of social media censorship targeting psychedelic organizations. The conversation also explores the differences between decriminalization and legalization—and why those distinctions matter. We discuss access, integrity, and why the fight for cognitive liberty is far from over. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2025/07/23/e219/