Dr. Maysa Presents: The Nervous System, Cannabis & Psychedelic Medicine
- Maysa Alavi
- Nov 19, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
Dr. Maysa Presents: The Nervous System, Cannabis & Psychedelic Medicine
At the 3rd Annual Medical Cannabis Conference hosted by the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, I had the opportunity to present on a topic that sits at the heart of my clinical work:
The nervous system as the foundation for healing, resilience, and effective psychedelic care.
As interest in cannabis, ketamine, and other psychedelic medicines continues to grow, it’s increasingly clear that outcomes are not determined by substances alone. What matters just as much—if not more—is the state of the nervous system receiving the experience.
A Nervous System–Informed Lens
Many individuals seeking psychedelic or plant-based therapies are living in patterns of chronic stress, emotional shutdown, hypervigilance, or overwhelm. From a nervous system perspective, these are not character flaws or failures—they are adaptive responses shaped by life experience, trauma, and prolonged demand.
In my talk, I explore how:
The autonomic nervous system shapes perception, mood, pain, and connection
States of safety vs. threat influence whether therapeutic experiences feel expansive or destabilizing
Psychedelics and cannabis interact differently depending on a person’s baseline nervous system state
Healing is supported by regulation, pacing, and integration, not intensity alone
This framework helps explain why the same medicine can be profoundly helpful for one person and difficult or disorganizing for another—and why preparation and education matter.
About the Lecture
The video below comes from a full-day conference focused on evidence-based cannabis and psychedelic medicine.
My presentation begins approximately one hour into the recording
The first hour features a beautiful and informative lecture by my colleague Robin Carhart-Harris, a leading researcher in the psychedelic field
You do not need to watch his talk to understand mine, though I highly recommend it if you have the time
My portion of the lecture weaves together neuroscience, clinical experience, and practical insights for patients and clinicians navigating altered states responsibly and intentionally.
How to Get the Most Out of This Resource
I recommend the following:
Watch the lecture at your own pace (my portion begins ~60 min into the recording)
Open the slide PDF alongside the video
The conference recording occasionally cuts or shifts/warps slides
Following along with the PDF will give you the clearest experience
Reflect on what resonates—especially ideas related to safety, regulation, and self-awareness
This material is designed to be grounding, educational, and empowering—not prescriptive or overwhelming.
Why This Matters
In my work, I see again and again that lasting change doesn’t come from chasing peak experiences. It comes from understanding how your body and nervous system respond to stress, rest, connection, and expansion.
When we work with the nervous system—rather than against it—we create conditions for insight to land, meaning to form, and growth to integrate over time.
If you have thoughts, reflections, or questions after engaging with this material, I’d love to hear them.
Warmly,
Maysa Alavi, MD
The Center NOLA
Dr. Alavi’s Lecture begins at ~60 min mark and the lecture slides are below
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