Decriminalize Nature’s mission is to improve human health and well-being by decriminalizing and expanding access to entheogenic plants and fungi through grassroots political organizing, education, and advocacy. The organization believes the government has no legitimate authority to restrict access to plants and fungi criminalized under the Nixon administration based on politics, not science. While some organizations seek approval through federal agencies like the DEA and FDA, Decriminalize Nature asserts that growing, gathering, and gifting entheogens is a basic human right. Decriminalization allows communities to reconnect with ancient uses free from government and corporate control, giving people freedom to heal, pursue personal and spiritual growth, and explore consciousness on their own terms. The organization seeks to end mass consciousness incarceration, especially for marginalized communities, by enabling equitable access to entheogenic plants and fungi without limits on grow-gather-gift-share. Led by BIPOC and women leadership nationally and locally since its founding, Decriminalize Nature recognizes the wisdom that emerges from struggle and thrives through participation of Indigenous, African American, Latinx/Chicanx, Asian, and recent immigrant leaders nationwide, operating as a people-led movement: Plant power to the people.
Why It Matters:
Why it matters: It rejects the strategy of seeking federal approval for entheogenic plants and fungi, instead asserting that growing, gathering, and gifting these medicines is a basic human right that communities should reclaim through grassroots organizing. By centering BIPOC and women leadership, the organization addresses how criminalization has disproportionately harmed marginalized communities through stigma, job loss, and incarceration. The movement’s vision of decriminalization without limits directly challenges both government prohibition based on politics rather than science and corporate control, advocating for equitable community access to ancient healing practices.
