Psychedelic Conversations | Neil Woods - Good Cop, Bad War

Welcome to the Psychedelic Conversations Podcast!

In this episode of Psychedelic Conversations, we speak with Neil Woods, a former undercover police officer turned bestselling author and leading voice in global drug policy reform. We explore Neil’s powerful journey from infiltrating drug gangs to becoming an outspoken advocate for the legal regulation of all drugs. He shares his experiences with the psychological toll of undercover work, the harm caused by drug prohibition, and the urgent need for unity across drug policy reform movements—including the psychedelic community. We also discuss the dangers of exceptionalism in advocacy, the intersection of drug policy and climate justice, and why effective messaging matters more than ever. Neil’s work with the Law Enforcement Action Partnership and broader coalitions aims to shift the conversation from criminalization to compassion, harm reduction, and systemic change. A truly eye-opening and essential conversation for anyone passionate about reform and collective healing.

About Neil:Neil is a former UK police officer and undercover drugs operative. Now he’s an active member of the international drug policy reform movement. He worked undercover between 1993 and 2007 befriending and gaining the trust of some of the most violent, unpredictable criminals in Britain. With the insight that can only come from having fought on its front lines, Neil came to see the true futility of the War on Drugs - that it demonises those who need help, and empowers the very worst elements in society. Neil is a board member of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) in the USA, and in the U.K. (LEAP UK). LEAP is a growing international organisation that advocates an evidence based drug policy and related criminal justice reforms. The group is made up entirely of serving and former police and other law enforcement.

Connect with Neil:https://www.neilwoods.net/

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Psychedelic Conversations Podcast is designed to educate, inform, and expand awareness.

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This show is for information purposes only, and is not intended to provide mental health or medical advice.

About Susan Guner:Susan Guner is a holistic psychotherapist with a mindfulness-based approach grounded in Transpersonal Psychology, focusing on trauma-informed, community-centric processes that offer a broader understanding of human potential and well-being.

Connect with Susan:Website: https://www.psychedelicconversations.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susan.gunerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guner/Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susangunerTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/susangunerBlog: https://susanguner.medium.com/Podcast: https://anchor.fm/susan-guner

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