Is the hype around RFK Jr. and Matt Zorn justified? Where to start with ethical design? How does consent work in psychedelic therapy?

To shine a light on all of this, plus a story that is definitely not a love letter to capitalism, read on!

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Table of Contents

1. Industry Insights: Is This the Zorning of the Age …

2. Philosophical Brief: Ethics and Design

3. Consultancy Corner: Consent in Psychedelic Therapy

4. Bonus Flash Fiction

Industry Insights: Is This the Zorning of the Age of Aquarius?

Robert F. Kennedy Jr is famously (apparently) open to psychedelics and is Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). His nominee for Surgeon General, Casey Means, has spoken openly of her belief in the healing power of mushrooms. Matt Zorn, a lawyer known for his pro-psychedelic work, has recently started work at the HHS.

The reaction from many of the loudest voices on social media, particularly LinkedIn, has been unalloyed enthusiasm and optimism. I’ve seen predictions range from the approval of MDMA-assisted therapy to outright re- or even de-scheduling of psychedelic substances.

Not everyone is buying into the hype, though. Here’s three reasons why caution is the right response:

1. What RFK Jr. says, wants, and delivers will be three different things:

Despite now being a public servant, RFK Jr is a politician at heart. You always have to consider he’s saying what he thinks people want to hear. His public support for childhood vaccinations, in light of his known anti-vax views is evidence he’s not always entirely honest or consistent in aligning his actions with his beliefs.

Although Casey Means is more of an influencer than politician, it will be a similar situation. Even if her enthusiasm for psychedelics is genuine, she’ll only get the chance to try if the Senate confirms her appointment.

Of the recent psychedelic-friendly appointments, Matt Zorn is the most junior, but also most interesting. He’s been upfront about wanting to use the chaos that’s unfolding in the HHS to push for reforms that could make approval of PAT easier. If you read his interviews carefully, though, you’ll see he’s much more cautious about saying whether or not it will happen.

And forget about ending prohibition through wholesale rescheduling or de-scheduling of psychedelics. Zorn himself correctly points out that this requires changing multiple federal laws, which is well beyond RFK’s influence.

2. Backlash, internal or external to the Trump administration:

There are two kinds of backlash coming in the next 3-4 years.

The first comes from inside the administration, when Trump inevitably scapegoats psychedelic allies to save his own skin (and if it comes down to it, he absolutely will.)

The second is that psychedelic business, particularly big organisations, become too closely associated with Republican politics. When the situation changes and power shifts away from Trump (and, therefore, RFK etc,) this association will become a massive liability.

For both forms of backlash, there’s a deeper lesson: Once you decide that you will do anything or work with anyone in order to achieve your goals, these risks radically increase. You’ve decided the great thing you’re working towards is worth all the negative things the government is doing. Apart from this kind of calculus being morally repugnant in itself, there's zero historical reason to assume the good will outweigh the bad.

3. Be careful what you wish for:

We also have to consider how things will play out if our plucky psychonauts are successful.

Zorn has said he thinks psychedelic medicines should not have to show efficacy prior to approval. Lowering this bar might make it easier for MDMA therapy to get past the FDA. But, if this idea were applied more generally the flow on effects could be worse than current situation.

Zorn is suggesting that insurers can decide if a drug works after it's approved. This isn’t going to let the orange sunshine into therapeutic spaces. But it might create a corrupt patchwork system where science is (even more) overridden by marketing and vibes. Let’s be clear: The FDA has its problems. But would you want insurance CEOs, those well-known paragons of diligence and compassion, deciding if a new psychedelic treatment works?

Even if Zorn can influence all this, which is far from certain, his belief that it won’t be a disaster comes from faith that the ‘free market’ will save US consumers rather than screwing them over, again.

Sorry, but I’m just not buying it.