1) There is so much cultural baggage around psychedelics at this point. We're still talking about the Marsh Chapel experiment? We're still writing articles that MUST include a Leary reference? There is a HUGE wave of psychedelic research coming to fruition now and in the coming 2 - 3 years that will hopefully help change the conversation from hippies, the 1960s, and even religious/spiritual metaphor.
2) Without a more concrete understanding of consciousness (and the 'hard problem' of it), our understanding of psychedelics is built on shaky foundations. Sure, psychedelic research may help us discover new insights that help solve the consciousness crisis... but that seems like a very speculative hope.
3) I'm curious why N,N-DMT isn't being studied as much as psilocybin in this current wave of research. Much of the challenge with contemporary psychedelic therapy has to do with logistics - trips take too long to fit a clinical setting. DMT is over in 20 minutes, and while (I've heard) extremely intense, people seem to anecdotally benefit in similar ways to longer-acting psychedelics.