This article provides an update on two separate cases in U.S. federal court involving the religious use of ayahuasca—one in Florida brought by Soul Quest and one in Arizona brought by the Arizona Yagé Assembly. Both organizations are suing the DEA to vindicate their religious rights. Chacruna’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants reflects on the status of both cases in facing these blatant injustices and how they might impact other organizations using ayahuasca as a sacrament.

This article takes a look at the controversies surrounding patenting psychedelics by analyzing the history of patents as a whole and applying this to the quickly emerging decriminalization and legalization of psychedelics. Chris Byrnes & Graham Pechenik delve into current policies taking place and describe the potential pros and evident cons of patents in psychedelics.

This resolution, which was put together by the National Congress of American Indians Executive Committee, puts forth policies that have been in place in regards to Native Americans and the sacred use of peyote, as well as resolutions they are putting forth regarding their opposition of the legalization and decriminalization of Peyote at the federal, state, and local government levels.

This article explains Measure 109 and the structure that is being molded to ensure the safe use of psilocybin by adults in Oregon. Though the use of psilocybin is often associated with mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapy, Oregon will be using a method called “supported adult use” which is very different from therapy. This article explains the differences.

This comprehensive report, which was prepared for the Denver City Council Finance & Governance Committee, provides tools for educating the public on the history, use, research, training, and safety surrounding the use of psilocybin mushrooms. This was put together following the approval of Initiative 301 in Denver.

Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines & Hoots, A. (2021). Guide to RFRA and Best Practices for Psychedelic Plant Medicine Churches. San Francisco, CA: Chacruna...

This is a community alert about the seizures of sacred plants and arrests by law enforcement that have been increasing across the US, most of which have been in religious and ceremonial settings of indigenous peoples. Chacruna is taking action to provide free education, resources, and support of other organizations who are also advocating for the protection of sacred plants.

https://youtu.be/BnaYwqsxkbk Now, the California legislature is on the verge of becoming the first legislative body to fully decriminalize several psychedelic substances. The psychedelic revolution is in...

On August 25, 2020, a proposal presented in Colombia’s Congress to regulate coca and its derivatives, including cocaine, made history. This article dispels the equation of coca and cocaine; highlights the sacredness of the plant to Indigenous Americas; analyzes the underlying questions of the legislative proposal; and discusses the new economic models and regulation of coca.

One of the psychoactive mushrooms described by Gordon Wasson in LIFE magazine (1957) is today an endangered species. This article describes how mycologists located the fungus Conocybe siligeneoides in the Sierra Mazateca of Oaxaca (Mexico).