#145 – Matthew Johnson: Psychedelics

Lex Fridman Podcast

Matthew W. Johnson is a professor and psychedelics researcher at Johns Hopkins. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
– Brave: https://brave.com/lex
– Neuro: https://www.getneuro.com and use code LEX to get 15% off
– Four Sigmatic: https://foursigmatic.com/lex and use code LexPod to get up to 60% off
– Cash App: https://cash.app/ and use code LexPodcast to get $10

EPISODE LINKS:
Matt’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Drug_Researcher
Matt’s Website: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/results/directory/profile/0800020/matthew-johnson
Study Website: https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/

PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://lexfridman.com/podcast
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lwqZIr
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2nEwCF8
RSS: https://lexfridman.com/feed/podcast/
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/lexfridman
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/lexclips

SUPPORT & CONNECT:
– Check out the sponsors above, it’s the best way to support this podcast
– Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/lexfridman
– Twitter: https://twitter.com/lexfridman
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexfridman
– LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexfridman
– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LexFridmanPage
– Medium: https://medium.com/@lexfridman

OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:31) – Introduction to psychedelics
(22:33) – Psychedelics expand the mind
(25:44) – The priors we bring to the psychedelic experience
(29:40) – Elon Musk and first principles thinking
(40:10) – DMT
(51:32) – Joe Rogan and DMT
(57:40) – The nature of drug addiction
(1:11:29) – The economics of drug pricing
(1:17:44) – Should we legalize all drugs?
(1:29:46) – What is the most dangerous drug?
(1:32:20) – Does drug prohibition work?
(1:36:14) – Cocaine and sex
(1:43:15) – Risky sexual decisions
(1:54:12) – Psilocybin helping people quit smoking
(2:00:30) – Young Jamie
(2:22:38) – Participating in a study
(2:29:57) – Psychedelics and the human mind
(2:37:20) – The future of psychedelics
(2:40:01) – Neuralink
(2:49:33) – Consciousness
(3:02:15) – Panpsychism
(3:12:20) – Aliens and DMT
(3:22:24) – Mortality
(3:32:12) – Meaning of life