5-MeO-DMT: History, Psychopharmacology, and Paths of Practice

5-MeO-DMT, the so-called God Molecule, after decades in the shadows of its better known psychedelic cousins has been gaining some public attention of late. 5-MeO-DMT, while not being particularly hallucinogenic, seems to amplify the wellspring of pure consciousness in ways uniquely potent and transformative. Although it has been around for several decades, primarily smoked as large doses of the dried secretion of the Sonoran Desert Toad, recent techniques for using the vaporized pure molecule have lent nuance and variety to the way 5-MeO-DMT is used: Careful titration, and a very short duration of effect, has made it useful in standard therapeutic frameworks; And, the clarity of the non-dual awareness that it reveals makes it particularly suited as an adjunct to dedicated meditation practice. Mark Petrick and Paul Gerstein, M.D., members of the Psychedelic Meditation Institute, will talk about 5-MeO-DMT: history, psychopharmacology, paths of practice.

Paul Gerstein is a recently retired medical doctor from Western Massachusetts specializing in Emergency Medicine (35 years) and Substance Use Disorder (10 years). In April, 2026 Paul completed a 6-month course for healthcare professionals on Psychedelic-Treatment Screening and Pharmacology taught by Dr. Benjamin Malcolm (The Spirit Pharmacist). Paul is a long time Zen practitioner. He joined John Gorman’s Psychedelic Meditation Institute in July, 2025. This practice group merges Dzogchen-style Tibetan Buddhism with the spiritual and therapeutic use of vaporized 5-MeO-DMT.

Mark Petrick is retired from a varied career that included work as a college art professor, exhibiting artist, magazine publisher, writer, commercial photographer, work in industrial/public relations, and marketing communications. Mark lives in Santa Fe where he is a student of Zen Buddhism at the Mountain Cloud Zen Center, and continues to pursue his art making. He became a member of the Psychedelic Meditation Institute in mid-2025.