(part one of three)
Nationwide, arrest data revealed a consistent trend: significant racial bias. Blacks are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana, despite roughly similar use rates.
No doubt these groups are not jumping into the psychedelics space right now, although treatment through psychedelics has the potential to bring restorative and transformative justice to some Indigenous communities and non-heterosexual, patriarchal communities, such as the disabled, queer and BIPOC. to be aware of. In fact, some actively practice group caring and accountability within their community.
The fact is that conflict and trauma do not originate from a specific individual sphere, but across groups, communities, cultures, and even generations. Systemic issues such as capitalism, ableism, patriarchy, transphobia, and white supremacy are potentially driving or fueling conflict at a deeper level.
Acknowledging these internal and external currents is a good way to start working towards their resolution.
Psychedelic Liberation Training (PLT), a program developed by Charlotte James and Sarah Reid On the essential practices of de-stigmatizing ourselves and others, decolonizing colonialism, and providing a new path toward anti-oppression, diversity, and inclusion in what has become a predominantly white space.
Two black women have been participating in the psychedelic space for many years. James is co-founder of the Ancestor Project and Reed is a clinician for MAPS and Yale Psychedelic Studies. His experience made him realize the lack of effort made to decriminalize psychedelics in Black and Brown communities.
The starting point for this ten-week certificate program is the recognition that we all have trauma and we all have been colonized. It is in fact any relationship a person enters into with a fellow human being, activities or objects.
process of decolonization This can be seen as forgetting the conditioning that manifests itself in every action we initiate, which normally goes hand in hand with the fall from patriarchy and domination.
Again, the fact that psychedelics use is not as common in the black community as they are among whites is due in part to disproportionate drug arrests, cultural stigma, and a lack of visibility in the space.
Which is why, says James, “it is our conscious goal to reach out to more Black voices, creators, and businesses to begin re-contextualizing how psychedelics look in our community and to help Black psychedelic enthusiasts connect.” provide greater representation for.”
Next Up: Exclusive: Combo and the Holy Medicine – Working Through Inner Repression
Photo: Edit with photo by Benzinga Miha Creative and nfsstudi0 on Shutterstock and Benjah-bmm27 and Ben Mills on Wikimedia Commons.