A new wind is blowing through politics. For years, psychedelics were seen as symbols of counterculture: hippies, Woodstock, protest against war and system. But today something remarkable is happening. More and more conservative politicians, especially in the United States as well as Germany, are speaking out positively about the medicinal and therapeutic value of psychedelics such as magic truffles, mushrooms and MDMA. What explains this turnaround? And what can we in Europe learn from it?
Why exactly conservatives are changing now?
At first glance, it seems contradictory. Conservative parties have always profiled themselves as advocates of "law and order". Strict drug laws, harsh punishments, zero tolerance. Yet we now see these very politicians opening the doors to psychedelic research. The reason lies in the human stories that reach them: thousands of war veterans, police officers and firefighters struggling with trauma, depression or addiction after their careers.
When these people tell you that conventional drugs do not work, but a single session with psilocybin or MDMA gives them their lives back, it is hard to ignore. It is no longer an abstract debate, but a concrete question: how do you help the men and women you yourself sent to war?
The role of the veterans' movement in the US
In the US, the veterans' movement is driving the political shift. Organisations of former soldiers actively lobby for legal access to psychedelic therapies. They tell their personal stories in Congress and in the media. Not as activists with flowers in their hair, but as law-abiding citizens who have given everything for their country.
That impresses conservative politicians. Veterans are a sacred group within the American political landscape. Their voices open doors that remained closed for years. Where progressive movements often encountered scepticism, veterans know how to break through resistance.
Germany as European pioneer
We are also seeing a turnaround in Europe, and Germany occupies a special position. Under Chancellor Scholz's government, a broader reform of drug policy is being discussed. The focus is not only on cannabis, but also on opening the door to research and medical applications of psychedelics.
What is striking: even within the CDU, traditionally conservative and reticent, there are increasing calls for new treatment options for depression and PTSD. Doctors and scientists in Berlin and Munich stress that Germany can play a leading role in Europe, precisely because the country has a strong pharmaceutical tradition
For conservative German politicians, the key is the same as in the US: responsibility for health and well-being. Not experiment for experiment's sake, but therapy as a last resort for those who otherwise get stuck.
From banned substance to patriotic duty
The language is changing with it. Where it used to talk about "illegal drugs", it is now about "innovative therapies". Psychedelics are no longer portrayed as a threat to society, but as a means of healing heroes and citizens. It helps that research at universities such as Johns Hopkins, Yale and the Charité in Berlin provides the scientific evidence: psilocybin has been shown to be effective for depression, PTSD and anxiety disorders.
This creates a paradox: what was once forbidden in the name of conservative values is now embraced in the same name. Psychedelic therapy is no longer rebellious, but almost a social duty.
What does this mean for the Netherlands?
The Netherlands has long known the special position of magic truffles. Yet conservative parties here often lag behind. The debate is still strongly coloured by old stigmas. While in Germany and the US conservatives actually profile themselves as innovators, here silence often still prevails
The US veterans' movement and the German medical profession show that change is possible, even among the most reluctant parties. It just requires a different narrative: not about freedom and experimentation, but about care, responsibility and human dignity.
The power of story
As a grower and observer, I can see how special this moment is. Psychedelics are natural products, created from a subtle interplay of substances beyond just psilocybin. For centuries, they have been used by indigenous cultures as medicine, guide and sanctuary. That this knowledge now resonates all the way to the conservative corridors of Washington as well as Berlin shows that the power of story is stronger than political boundaries.
If you listen carefully, you will hear that veterans, scientists and politicians actually speak the same language as nature: that of healing, connection and meaning.
And now?
The question is no longer whether psychedelics will have a place in society, but how soon and under what conditions. Conservative politicians who revise their attitudes are accelerating that movement. And perhaps that is the biggest lesson: real change comes not only through confrontation, but by finding unexpected allies.
Would you also like to be part of the change? Then take a look at the Outlets page.
