(part one of three)

Nationwide, arrest data showed a consistent trend: significant racial bias. Despite roughly equal rates of use, blacks are 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites.

Undoubtedly, these groups aren’t exactly jumping into the psychedelics space right now, although healing through psychedelics has the potential to create restorative and transformative justice, something that indigenous communities and non-heteronormative, patriarchal communities like disabled, queer, and BIPOC want to be seem to be aware about. Indeed, some actively practice group caring and accountability within their communities.

The fact is that conflict and trauma do not arise in a specific personal space, but across groups, communities, cultures and even generations. Systemic issues such as capitalism, ableism, patriarchy, transphobia, and white supremacy are likely to trigger or fuel conflict at a deeper level.

Recognizing these internal and external currents is a good way to start working on their resolution.

Psychedelic Liberation Training (PLT), a program developed by Charlotte James and Sara Reed about the necessary practices with oneself and others to destigmatize, decolonize and provide a new avenue to anti-oppression, diversity and inclusion in an area that has become a predominantly white space.

The two black women have been active in the psychedelic space for several years. James is a co-founder of the Ancestor Project and Reed is a MAPS and Psychedelic Studies therapist at Yale. Her experience made her recognize the lack of efforts being made to destigmatize psychedelics in black and brown communities.

The starting point for this ten week certificate program is the recognition that we are all traumatized and have been colonized. This happens in virtually every relationship a person enters into, be it with a fellow human being, activities, or goods.

The process of decolonization may be…