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Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 from 12:00-1:30pm PST
Oregon is one of the states in the US that has been making remarkable legislative changes in regards to psychedelics, particularly with psilocybin mushrooms with the passing of Measure 109. There have been many mixed feelings about this measure and its policies from folks involved in the field as well as the general public. An important angle to consider while these policies take place are the ceremonial and religious uses of psilocybin. Join speakers Jon Dennis, who is a lawyer and activist heavily involved in Oregon’s legal psilocybin landscape, and Dave Kopilak, who was the primary drafter of Oregon Ballot Measure 109, in a discussion moderated by Ariel Clark, who is an attorney, activist, and General Counsel to Chacruna as well as a member of Chacruna’s Board of Directors. This forum will address various topics, such as the overall framework and primary purposes of the Act, psychedelic healing and the search for the best containers, M109 and the problem of imposing western paradigms on non-western medicines, thoughts on religion under the Act and the entheogenic practitioner’s proposal, affordability and community access models of psilocybin services, and much more.
Ariel Clark is an attorney, activist, and co-founder of Clark Howell LLP, a women-steered law firm focused on cannabis, hemp and psychedelics. After practicing law at California Indian Legal Services, she started her own firm in 2010, to be of service to the plants and communities she is in deep connection with. Ariel is General Legal Counsel to Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and member of Chacruna’s Board of Directors. She has been involved in numerous drug policy, social equity and justice reform efforts in her life. Her organization affiliations have included the Psychedelic Bar Association, the LA Cannabis Task Force, and the California Native American Cannabis Association. She has been recognized by Rolling Stone as one of 18 “Women Shaping The Culture of Tomorrow” and Entrepreneur’s “Top 100 Cannabis Leaders.” She is licensed in California; J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law (2005); B.A. in Religious Studies, University of Michigan (2000).
Jon Dennis is an entrepreneur, a consultant and principal at Psychedelics Go, and an Oregon lawyer at Sagebrush Law. He is the co-host of “Eyes on Oregon,” a podcast by Psychedelics Today exploring the latest developments in Oregon’s legal psilocybin landscape. Jon’s professional interests include psychedelic wellness retreats, religious use of plant and fungi medicines, equity in psychedelics, facilitator training programs, cultivation and production, drug policy, and Oregon’s Psilocybin Services Act (aka Measure 109). Jon has taken the North Star Ethics Pledge and is drawn to this work by the conviction that psychedelics can help catalyze positive change. Prior to joining Psychedelics Go, Jon worked as a civil litigator and managed a nonprofit law office giving free legal assistance to people living in poverty. Jon has a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Kansas and a law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. He lives in Ontario, Oregon.
Dave Kopilak was the primary drafter of Oregon Ballot Measure 91 (2014) and understands the business, corporate, and securities law challenges that cannabis businesses face. Additionally, Dave was the primary drafter of Oregon Ballot Measure 109 (2020), also has known as the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, which was approved by Oregon voters on November 3, 2020. Dave has been following the meetings of the Psilocybin Advisory Board and its various subcommittees and has a unique insight into the numerous challenges that Oregon-licensed psilocybin businesses will face as the industry prepares to launch in 2023.
This talk will be recorded and immediately available for rewatch for all attendees.
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