Below is a sample of my work for a private startup company that specializes in educating the public on psychedelic pharmaceuticals. The following post is in regards to current activism and legislation.
For decades, organizations like Erowid and Shroomery have been committed to educating the public on research studies and providing trustworthy information. It is because of the work they do, as well as many other organizations and nonprofits, that cities are starting to not only decriminalize psychedelic substances, with psilocybin often at the forefront, but are also finding ways to make them more accessible. For example, in Oakland, CA., instead of creating a for-profit market, they implemented a Grow, Gather, and Gift framework that encourages people to take the cultivation and free distribution of entheogenic plants and fungi into their own hands. This measure was put forth by Decriminalize Nature— an educational campaign created by Entheogenic Research Integration and Education (ERIE). Their purpose is to “decriminalize entheogenic plants, restore our root connection to nature, and improve human health and well-being.”
Since 2018, Decriminalize Nature has led independent chapters in Chicago, Ann Arbor, Salt Lake City, Dallas, and several other cities in the US and Canada. As of now, there are nearly 100 cities across the country that are aiming to set new legislation regarding possession, use, and cultivation of entheogens, with Decriminalize Nature at the front lines. In an effort to change the negative narrative that surrounds these plants and fungi, Decriminalize Nature wants focus on individual communities and make change at a local level. This is different from models we’ve seen in the past, particularly with cannabis, that aim to commercialize first and educate later. Their proposal calls for banning entheogens as the lowest priority, meaning they could still be considered illegal, but police will be required to pursue all other crimes before going after someone for growing or possessing entheogenic plants and fungi. All prosecutions for crimes involving these substances must cease as well. After Decriminalize Nature’s measure passed in Oakland, other cities, like Denver, Santa Cruz, DC, Somerville, and Cambridge, have followed suit. New Mexico decriminalized growing psilocybin mushrooms in 2005; and in 2020 Oregon became the first state to legalize them. Legislation is also being proposed in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, and North Dakota.
2021