The District House (Wed. 04/02 with Sean Michael Eric Scarritt)

The District House is a benefit of District216. Come by for a portion or all of the evening, meet amazing members + guests, and interact with speakers on a variety of topics.

Topic: "Dreams from a Psychedelic Assisted Future"

Description: We stand on the edge of a precipice; surrounded both by entrenched ‘Wicked Problems’ like climate change and the emergent tools to manage, empower, or destroy our collective futures. Psychedelics have the potential to be a vital tool in developing novel solutions. Broad application of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) will set a crucial baseline, make healing a real possibility for millions and save countless lives. But PAT is not enough. It is time to focus attention, conversation, and energy into understanding the potential of Psychedelic Assisted Culture. In order to weave psychedelics back into our lives we must understand how ubiquitous they were to ancient humans. Through testing hair samples and analysis of ceremonial vessels, we know Psychedelic use in antiquity was replete with a host of botanical/fungal compounds, often expertly crafted into multi-drug compounds and used medicinally as sacraments.

When: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 5pm to 9pm (Speaker at 6:30pm)

Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)

Members are Free to attend The District House evenings, and are prioritized when we reach capacity.

Guests Welcome to purchase $25 tickets (discounted from $50) to The District House evenings.

Note: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.

Speaker: Sean Michael Eric Scarritt, Co-Founder Entheogenic Medical Research Centre & Podcast Host

Sean Michael Eric Scarritt - Sean is an entrepreneur focused on emerging industries, a psychedelic advocate and co-founder of the Entheogenic Medical Research Centre (EMRC). Sean has produced award winning documentaries, managed R&D teams for cannabinoid synthesis and psilocybin extraction as well as cannabis consulting throughout three continents. When he is outside the Lab you can find Sean hosting podcasts, discussing psychedelic culture, science and legacy, climbing or reading.

Additional Context for the Evening:

Classical Greek culture synthesized the indigenous wisdom of antiquity into a framework of ‘mystery initiations’ lasting over 1000 years. As the distinguished professor Carl Ruck and others have suggested, these psychedelically powered initiations engendered an explosion of creativity that saw Greece culture flourish. Put simply, psychedelic initiations laid the foundations of the western worldview. They sparked huge leaps in philosophy, medicine, politics and the arts. They birthed a way of thinking about the natural world that led to the scientific method.

Modern minds have made incredible progress along these same lines. As the work of Harman, Fadiman and Stolaroff (“Psychedelic Agents in Creative Problem-Solving,’ Psychological Reports. Vol. 19, 1966) and more recently “It’s High Time for Science,” by the singular Dr. Bruce Damer suggests - the adoption of psychedelic compounds into nearly all forms of human endeavor can lead to rapid and robust progress.

Perhaps most reflective of the sacred history of entheogenic compounds is the work of Roland Griffith. Roland’s studies into ‘mystical type experiences resulting from psilocybin,’ performed at Johns-Hopkins are often cited as being greatly responsible for the renewed scientific interest in psychedelic compounds. Just as in ancient times, the understanding of how these compounds can provoke intense spiritual experiences leads the way for the therapeutic, scientific and artistic work to follow.

To address modern existential challenges we look to those once ubiquitous ancient practices. Encouraging the acceleration of research into the utility of the non-ordinary states of consciousness provided by these compounds and how their wise application within ceremonial, mystical, scientific and culturally enriching practices may in fact be humanity's most valuable tool to secure a bright future.

We stand on the edge of a precipice; surrounded both by entrenched ‘Wicked Problems’ like climate change and the emergent tools to manage, empower, or destroy our collective futures. Psychedelics have the potential to be a vital tool in developing novel solutions. Broad application of Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) will set a crucial baseline, make healing a real possibility for millions and save countless lives. But PAT is not enough. It is time to focus attention, conversation, and energy into understanding the potential of Psychedelic Assisted Culture.

In order to weave psychedelics back into our lives we must understand how ubiquitous they were to ancient humans. Through testing hair samples and analysis of ceremonial vessels, we know Psychedelic use in antiquity was replete with a host of botanical/fungal compounds, often expertly crafted into multi-drug compounds and used medicinally as sacraments.

Classical Greek culture synthesized the indigenous wisdom of antiquity into a framework of ‘mystery initiations’ lasting over 1000 years. As the distinguished professor Carl Ruck and others have suggested, these psychedelically powered initiations engendered an explosion of creativity that saw Greece culture flourish. Put simply, psychedelic initiations laid the foundations of the western worldview. They sparked huge leaps in philosophy, medicine, politics and the arts. They birthed a way of thinking about the natural world that led to the scientific method.

Modern minds have made incredible progress along these same lines. As the work of Harman, Fadiman and Stolaroff (“Psychedelic Agents in Creative Problem-Solving,’ Psychological Reports. Vol. 19, 1966) and more recently “It’s High Time for Science,” by the singular Dr. Bruce Damer suggests - the adoption of psychedelic compounds into nearly all forms of human endeavor can lead to rapid and robust progress.

Perhaps most reflective of the sacred history of entheogenic compounds is the work of Roland Griffith. Roland’s studies into ‘mystical type experiences resulting from psilocybin,’ performed at Johns-Hopkins are often cited as being greatly responsible for the renewed scientific interest in psychedelic compounds. Just as in ancient times, the understanding of how these compounds can provoke intense spiritual experiences leads the way for the therapeutic, scientific and artistic work to follow.

To address modern existential challenges we look to those once ubiquitous ancient practices. Encouraging the acceleration of research into the utility of the non-ordinary states of consciousness provided by these compounds and how their wise application within ceremonial, mystical, scientific and culturally enriching practices may in fact be humanity's most valuable tool to secure a bright future.

Info: Meet District216 members and guests while enjoying snacks and beverages.

Info: Featuring Sean Michael Eric Scarritt

Info: Chat about what you just experienced and integrate a bit.

Event Venue

LoDo Studios, 216 East Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, United States