Wikipedia

Decriminalize Nature

Decriminalize Nature is a national grassroots organization started in Oakland, CA[1] that aims to improve human health and well-being by decriminalizing and expanding access to entheogenic plants and fungi through political and community organizing, education and advocacy.[2] Entheogens include but are not limited to psilocybe mushrooms, ayahuasca, plants that contain ibogaine, and cacti that contain mescaline. Decriminalize Nature supports and trains local leadership to pass policy,[3] having success in multiple cities/counties nationwide so far.

Decriminalize Nature
AbbreviationDecrim Nature, DN
FormationJanuary 2019
Founded atOakland, CA
Type501(c)(4)
MethodsGrow-Gather-Gift
Main organ
Board of Directors
Websitehttps://decriminalizenature.org/

History

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Decriminalize Nature was founded in 2019 in Oakland, California.[4] The organization was founded by a group of individuals connected to the grassroots psychedelic/ entheogenic community in the San Francisco Bay Area. The founding members were inspired to build the organization based upon years of underground work in spiritual, therapeutic, creative, and other models of consciousness exploration. They all agreed that the idea of nature being criminalized is untenable and this criminalization led to stigmatization inhibiting people from exploring this alternative modality for healing and personal and spiritual growth.[5] Therefore, education became a critical part of the movement.[2] The organization quickly expanded nationwide,[6] leading to successful decriminalization efforts across various cities in the United States.[7]

Oakland became the first city to pass a resolution decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi on June 4, 2019.[8] The Oakland City Council's unanimous decision set a precedent for other cities to follow[6] The resolution was heavily influenced by research indicating the efficacy of substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca in treating mental health conditions and catalyzing personal and spiritual growth.[9]

Following Oakland's example, several other cities and jurisdictions across the United States have passed Decriminalize Nature resolutions including, but not limited to, Santa Cruz, California;[10] Ann Arbor, Michigan;[11] Washington, D.C,[12] Seattle, Washington[13] Detroit, Michigan,[14] Somerville, Massachusetts,[15] Cambridge, Massachusetts,[16] Port Townsend, WA,[17] Arcata, California,[18] Hazel Park, Michigan,[19] Ferndale, Michigan,[20] Jefferson County, Washington,[21] Eureka, California,[22] Berkeley, California,[23] San Francisco, California,[24] Ypsilanti, Michigan,[25] and Olympia, Washington.[26] The success of Decriminalize Nature in Ann Arbor, Michigan inspired the Washtenaw County District Attorney to expand decriminalization throughout the county by a public policy directive.[27] In 2021, Grand Rapids, Michigan city council voted to support decriminalization policies but did not decriminalize entheogens in the city yet.[28] City/county level Decriminalize Nature policy affects over 4.75 million people across the US: California (1,446,303); Michigan (1,029,894); Washington (849,547); Washington DC (686,995); Minnesota (423,250); Massachusetts (244,954) and Maine (69,307).[29] The Decriminalize Nature movement continues to grow, with over 25 cities and counties passed from 2019 to 2024, advocating for policy changes at local, state, and federal levels.[3]

Objectives[30]

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Decriminalize Nature aims to:

  • Educate the Public: Increase awareness about the benefits and risks of entheogenic plants and fungi, emphasizing their historical and cultural significance.
  • Promote Research: Advocate for more scientific research into the therapeutic uses of these substances.
  • Policy Reform: Push for the decriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi, removing criminal penalties for their use, possession, sharing, and cultivation.
  • Risk Reduction: Encourage safe and informed use of entheogens, including the development of community guidelines and support networks.

Ethos and Methodology

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A core aspect of the movement is the "Grow - Gather - Gift"[31] model, which decriminalizes the cultivation, gathering, and sharing of entheogenic plants and fungi within the community. This model empowers individuals to grow their own entheogens, gather them in nature or community settings, and share them with others, thereby reducing dependency on pharmaceutical companies and fostering self-sufficiency.[32][33][30] Decriminalize Nature advocates for decriminalization as the first and foremost step before any legalization or medicalization models are considered.[34] The organization emphasizes that decriminalization should not be repealed by subsequent models and calls for the federal descheduling of entheogenic plants and fungi to remove all criminal penalties.

References

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  1. ^ Ahmed, Leah Asmelash,Saeed (2019-06-05). "Oakland decriminalizes 'magic mushrooms' and other psychedelic drugs". CNN. Retrieved 2024-08-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Tomoski, Miro (2020-02-14). "Entheogenic Plants & Fungi: The Campaign to Decriminalize Naturally Occurring Psychedelics". DoubleBlind Mag. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  3. ^ a b Smith, Patrick (2019-12-24). "Decriminalizing Psychedelics - Change Your Mind, Then Change the Law". EntheoNation. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  4. ^ Cava, Elizabeth Weise and Marco della. "Oakland in California decriminalizes magic mushrooms and peyote". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  5. ^ Project, The Artifacts (2019-09-02). "The Entheogenic Movement: Decriminal". Medium. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  6. ^ a b Jaeger, Kyle (2019-06-18). "Movement To Decriminalize Psychedelics Spreads Nationally". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  7. ^ Lekhtman, Alexander (2019-11-15). "Where US Psychedelic Decriminalization Efforts Stand Right Now". Filter. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  8. ^ "City of Oakland - File #: 18-1790". oakland.legistar.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  9. ^ Allday, Erin (June 28, 2019). "Can psychedelics heal? A growing movement says yes". San Francisco Chronicle.
  10. ^ McCarthy, Kelly. "Santa Cruz decriminalizes psychedelic mushrooms". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  11. ^ "Ann Arbor decriminalizes magic mushrooms, psychedelic plants". AP News. 2020-09-26. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  12. ^ Furst, Camille; Staff • •, NBC Washington (2021-03-16). "DC Loosens Enforcement of Psychedelic Plants, Magic Mushrooms". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  13. ^ Brown, Jon (2021-10-06). "Seattle City Council unanimously supports decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  14. ^ "Detroit just decriminalized psychedelics and 'magic mushrooms.' Here's what that means". PBS News. 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  15. ^ "Somerville Is First Mass. Community To Move To Decriminalize Psychedelics". www.wbur.org. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  16. ^ "Cambridge City Council Moves to Decriminalize Psychedelic Drugs, Use of Other Controlled Substances | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  17. ^ Herrington, A. J. "Washington City Votes To Decriminalize Psychedelics". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  18. ^ Times-Standard, Mario Cortez | (2021-10-07). "Arcata City Council OKs decriminalizing mushrooms, other entheogenic plants". Times-Standard. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  19. ^ Neavling, Steve (March 23, 2022). "Hazel Park becomes third Michigan city to decriminalize natural psychedelics". Detroit Metro Times.
  20. ^ Green, Randiah (February 28, 2023). "Ferndale decriminalizes magic mushrooms and other psychedelics". Detroit Metro Times.
  21. ^ Segall, Peter (2023-05-02). "Jefferson County de-prioritizes psychedelics". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  22. ^ LINCOLN, SOPHIE (2023-10-20). "Eureka City Council decriminalizes entheogenic plants and fungi after mass support from community". KRCR. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  23. ^ Lekhtman, Alexander (2023-07-14). "Berkeley Vote Spreads Psychedelic Decriminalization in the Bay Area". Filter. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  24. ^ Lekhtman, Alexander (2022-09-08). "San Francisco Decriminalizes Plant-Based Psychedelics". Filter. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  25. ^ lsmolciclarson@mlive.com, Lucas Smolcic Larson | (2024-01-10). "'These plants have saved my life': Ypsilanti decriminalizes psychedelic plants and fungi". mlive. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  26. ^ Adlin, Ben (2024-08-15). "Olympia, WA, Decriminalizes Psychedelic Plants and Fungi". Filter. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  27. ^ "Entheogenic Plants Policy | Washtenaw County, MI". www.washtenaw.org. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  28. ^ "Grand Rapids City Commissioners show support for decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms". WZZM13.com. 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  29. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  30. ^ a b Project, The Artifacts (2019-09-02). "The Entheogenic Movement: Decriminal". Medium. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  31. ^ Burton, Miranda. "Denver Mushroom Cooperative Holds Free Psilocybin Exchange". Westword. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  32. ^ Tomoski, Miro (2020-02-14). "Entheogenic Plants & Fungi: The Campaign to Decriminalize Naturally Occurring Psychedelics". DoubleBlind Mag. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  33. ^ "Decriminalizing Psychedelics - Change Your Mind, Then Change the Law - EntheoNation". 2020-09-19. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2024-10-24.
  34. ^ "Why we support the growing grassroots movement to Decriminalize Nature First and Forever". Chacruna. 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
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