Santa Cruz is a community where new ideas take root early—sometimes quietly, other times colorfully, often long before the rest of the country catches on. From organic food and environmental activism to mindfulness and alternative healing, this coastal town is known for embracing alternative ways of being. Lately, one of those questions has resurfaced with renewed curiosity: can microdosing psychedelics help people change deeply ingrained habits?
Not in the escapist, countercultural sense often associated with the past, but in a far more intentional way—focused on well-being, behavior change, and psychological flexibility.
Microdosing, the practice of taking very small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances like LSD and psilocybin (magic mushrooms). The saying goes, “If you feel like you’re tripping, it isn’t a microdose.”
Some proponents compare microdosing to taking an SSRI or some other kind of medication that you might take every day to help dampen symptoms of a condition like depression. Yet so far, the research is inconclusive. One study in Scientific Report says that microdosing psychedelics can show small to medium improvements in mood and health.
Yet another study in the Translational Psychiatry report notes no objective evidence of improvements and creativity, well-being, and cognitive function.
Meanwhile, new research suggests that people who microdose report improvements in everyday behaviors tied closely to health: better sleep, more consistent exercise, increased mindfulness practices, and healthier eating patterns. What’s particularly striking is that the strongest predictor of positive change wasn’t the dose or even the substance itself—it was intention. People who set clear goals for why they were microdosing were more likely to report meaningful shifts in their habits.
This finding aligns with a broader understanding of habit change. Sustainable behavior shifts rarely come from willpower alone; they emerge when people feel more aware, flexible, and capable of making different choices. Psychedelics appear to temporarily increase those qualities, often described as a loosening of rigid thought patterns or a greater ability to step outside autopilot.
That may help explain why Santa Cruz has quietly become a hub for thoughtful psychedelic exploration. The city’s decision several years ago to deprioritize enforcement of certain plant-based psychedelics opened the door for more open dialogue, education, and community-based approaches. Rather than pushing these substances underground, local organizers, educators, and wellness practitioners have focused on harm reduction, integration, and intentional use.
In Santa Cruz, psychedelics are increasingly discussed not as a shortcut to enlightenment, but as one tool among many for personal growth. Community gatherings, educational events , and integration circles emphasize preparation, context, and follow-through—how insights gained during altered states translate into everyday life.
Local SoulCare Wellness Studio incorporates microdosing into a variety of holistic wellness offerings facilitated by a team of licensed mental and physical health professionals.
Co-founder Cindy Ford-Hill explains, “When microdosing is approached with intention, many people experience subtle yet meaningful benefits. Individuals often report increased self-compassion, a stronger sense of connection, and enhanced mindfulness—without noticeable physical effects. This allows for full daily functioning while gently supporting ongoing emotional and mental well-being.”
Javiera Köstner and Sebastián Beca were early and influential voices in shaping Santa Cruz’s grounded, integration-focused psychedelic movement, helping shift the conversation from altered states to lasting change. While Green Magic Yoga has since closed, the couple continues their work by leading intentional microdose hikes. The real work, participants often say, happens afterward: going to bed earlier, moving the body, setting boundaries, or breaking long-standing patterns around stress, food, or substances like alcohol.
Neuroscientists studying psychedelics point to changes in brain networks related to self-reflection and flexibility. When those networks become less rigid, even temporarily, people may find it easier to interrupt habits that once felt automatic. That doesn’t mean psychedelics create change on their own. In fact, researchers caution that the benefits reported so far are largely self-reported and observational. Placebo effects, expectation, and environment all play powerful roles.
Still, the pattern is compelling—especially in a culture where many people feel stuck. Stuck in sleep deprivation. Stuck in sedentary routines. Stuck in coping strategies that no longer serve them.
What’s emerging in Santa Cruz isn’t a psychedelic free-for-all, nor a promise of quick fixes. It’s a measured, community-centered exploration of how altered states—paired with intention, education, and integration—might help people loosen old habits and choose healthier ones.
In a town that has always valued experimentation with consciousness and care for the whole person, the conversation feels less radical than it might elsewhere. Here, psychedelics are being folded into a larger dialogue about wellness, accountability, and personal responsibility.
