Mountains, Microdosing and Poker (Exclusive)

Palomar Mountain Poker Game Reveals Emerging Trend: Microdosing for Competitive Edge

PALOMAR MOUNTAIN, CA – A regular poker night amongst friends overlooking the Palomar Mountains has become an unlikely testing ground for a growing, yet largely anecdotal, trend: the use of microdoses of psilocybin to enhance focus and strategic thinking. participants report heightened concentration and improved emotional regulation during high-stakes games, sparking conversations about the potential benefits – and risks – of this unconventional approach to competitive performance.

The group, comprised of Cindy, sandi, and Shawn, initially turned to microdosing as a way to cope with the emotional toll of witnessing a loved one, roseana Spangler-Sims, navigate end-of-life care.Roseana,who passed away on August 31,2025,with a view of the Palomar Mountains as her backdrop,had requested a peaceful and intentional departure. The friends found that small, sub-perceptual doses of psilocybin helped them remain present and supportive during Roseana’s final days, and later, they began experimenting with it during their weekly poker games. “She didn’t have to do the great suffering that we had to watch our mom go through,” Sandi explained, referencing a previous experience with her mother’s prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer 17 years prior.

“We got to spend time doing things she loved, and we had a lot of fun together,” Cindy recalls. “She was able to tell us how she felt about us. And then we were also able to tell her more personally how we felt about her.” The shared experience of Roseana’s passing, coupled with the perceived cognitive benefits of microdosing, lead the group to explore its potential in other areas of their lives. Shawn notes, “It’s not about ‘winning’ necessarily, but about being fully engaged and making the best decisions possible.”

While the group acknowledges the legal complexities surrounding psilocybin – it remains a Schedule I controlled substance at the federal level – they emphasize their responsible approach. Doses are meticulously measured, and the practice is confined to a private setting. The group’s experience highlights a broader, emerging interest in the potential of psychedelics for cognitive enhancement, a field still in its early stages of scientific examination. Researchers are beginning to explore the effects of microdosing on creativity, problem-solving, and emotional well-being, but conclusive evidence remains limited.