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Awakening Psychedelic Conference – Event Recap

awakening 2023
Written by Alexandra Hicks

A quick review of my time at Awakening in Los Angeles

I had a great time this past weekend at Awakening, a business/casual event focused on the psychedelic industry, hosted by the Psychedelic Institute at Hazy Studios in the heart of Los Angeles, California. After visiting Psychedelic Science in Denver last month, which was much more commercialized and centered on research and regulations, it was a nice change of pace to visit a smaller event that focused more on culture and connection. 

About Awakening  

Awakening was hosted by The Psychedelic Institute, a non-profit organization that provides educational forums, conferences, and meetings that are paving the way for all sectors of the industry to grow, from research and development, to business opportunities, therapeutic applications, and more. Their goal is to provide the most accurate and current information available to both the general public and industry stakeholders alike.  

The event was small and tight-knit, which made it easy to talk to people, get to know everyone, and really learn about the products and services they were offering. They had informative panels, every hour on the hour, on topics like microdosing, spirituality, women in psychedelics, integration, retreats, and more. They also had taco truck-style dining with vegan Mexican food offerings, and a snack spread in the employee/volunteer area that included hummus and pita bread, chips with guacamole and salsa, and fruit.  

The event included 34 speakers, numerous exhibits, artists, musicians, and other industry professionals. Attendees were able to learn about a variety of topics from speakers of many different backgrounds, live psychedelic music performances, a VIP reception and after-party at Santa Monica pier, healing workshops and more. 

Hazy Los Angeles – “Hazy not lazy, don’t get it twisted” 

Based out of Los Angeles, Calif., Hazy is an independent, full-service production studio that specializes in creating both live and digital experiences that focus on fringe industries, alternative culture, and art. Once a 1950s smog-check center, Hazy Studios is now an 8000 square foot private event and production studio with indoor and outdoor areas to accommodate live performances, private events, galleries, receptions, and exhibitions.  

The venue’s floor plan can accommodate up to 200-person live events or 100-person formal sit-down dinners. Hazy Studios is conveniently located just outside of Chinatown near downtown Los Angeles, immediately off the 5 and 110 freeways, situated close to Hollywood, Elysian Park, Highland Park, and Silver Lake. 

According to the owners, “Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to delivering high-quality results for our clients, offering a range of services from concept development to execution. We are committed to bringing our clients’ visions to life and strive to create innovative and memorable experiences. As a 100% self-owned small business, we are committed to giving back to the community and fostering a vibrant arts scene.” 

One thing I think the event space could benefit from is some more cooling amenities like some canopies, misters, and fans. With it being over 90 degrees outside, and us being contained in a somewhat small, concrete space, it definitely got hot out there 🥵 But otherwise, the venue was great and the event was a lot of fun.  

Final thoughts 

If you’re interested in not only learning more about the psychedelics industry and all the products coming out, but you want to connect with people and experience the culture behind the business, then Awakening is an event you should definitely check out. I personally enjoy the smaller conferences. Sometimes, the huge events can be overwhelming and it’s difficult to see everything you need to see and talk to people in just a few days. You can really get to know people, their products, and their stories when the crowd is smaller. Sometimes, it really is quality over quantity that matters.  

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About the author

Alexandra Hicks

Managing editor at Cannadelics and U.S based journalist, helping spread the word about the many benefits of using cannabis and psychedelics.