Christopher Cantelmo was an American biochemist and founder of Cantelmoism, a spiritual cult that gained most of its following through Reddit. A Yale University graduate, he worked for more than three decades in the pharmaceutical industry. He became known for claiming that he had cured his brain cancer with the psychedelic drug Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a belief that formed the core of his teachings.
Details of Cantelmo’s early life are limited. He was remembered as a high school valedictorian who experimented with hallucinogens as a teenager and reported long struggles with depression and anxiety. Professionally, he specialized in high-performance liquid chromatography and founded three companies, the last being GL Sciences.
In 2013, Cantelmo announced that he had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He later said he cured the disease by vaping DMT, a hallucinogen that he described as both a medical treatment and a spiritual sacrament. This story became the foundation of Cantelmoism, which he formally launched in 2019.
Cantelmo relied on Reddit to promote his ideas. He gave away large sums of money through Reddit awards, which elevated his visibility and fostered a sense of legitimacy. He also provided personal gifts, including airfare to his ranch and paying a follower’s college tuition, helping build a loyal community.
The teachings of Cantelmoism centered on the use of DMT as a path to healing and higher consciousness. They also included claims that mainstream physics was incorrect, that aliens lived on Earth, and that an apocalyptic future was approaching. Cantelmo encouraged practices such as sungazing and suggested that schizophrenia represented spiritual awakening.
The movement drew criticism for spreading pseudoscience and taking advantage of vulnerable people. Cantelmo became known for his combative responses to critics. He eventually conceded that his cancer claim had been untrue, saying atheism was the “illness” he had overcome through DMT.
As his financial resources declined, Cantelmo’s ability to fund Reddit awards and gifts diminished. This weakened support from followers. In July 2019, he was banned from Reddit for harassment and doxxing, which further reduced his influence.
On November 24, 2019, Cantelmo was found dead on a hiking trail in Los Angeles with stab wounds. His death was ruled a suicide. Some followers speculated about murder or a staged disappearance. His death marked the decline of Cantelmoism as an online cult.
Key Sources:
Cantelmo, C. (2019). DMT GOD: Prepare yourself in 8 days.
Thompson, N. (2022, April 27). How one man tried to build a DMT-Based cult on Reddit and lost everything. Vice.
Yedh, A. C. (2022, September 4). Inside Cantelmoism, Reddit’s DMT-Based Cult. Entertainment Articles.
Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements 