Often, mainstream discussions about psychedelics have focused on which compound works best: Psilocybin, MDMA, MEAI, Ketamine, and others. But an equally important question receives far less attention: How much is the right amount?

In medicine, dose has always mattered. In psychedelic therapeutics, however, attention often centers on the choice of compound and the importance of set and setting, while dose receives comparatively less focus. Outcomes are shaped not only by the molecule itself but by the dose range in which it is administered. Different doses can produce distinct subjective states, engage different psychological and neurobiological mechanisms, and require very different therapeutic interventions.

This dose‑sensitive perspective is shaping how myself and others in the field think about developing safe, effective, and affordable psychedelic treatments. By understanding dose categories more precisely, we can match the right level of intensity to the right therapeutic need.

Below, I outline four broad dose categories, informed by existing literature and ongoing conversations with researchers across the field.

1. Subperceptual (Microdose)

A microdose is a low enough dose that users experience no........

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