Criminalizing Plant Medicine; Suppression of a Sacred Human Right
The criminalization of plants with psychoactive properties has a long and convoluted history. In the U.S. lately, reform and an easing of policy regarding certain plant medicine seems to be upon us. But stalwarts of the country’s failed war on drugs continue to push back, ignoring statistics that show the medicinal value and societal benefits these plants can offer.
A War on Plant Medicine
The war on drugs has been labelled a failure time and time again from members on either side of the political spectrum. The criminalization of medicinal plants as drugs has resulted in the incarceration of millions, while drug cartels become increasingly dangerous and more aggressive.
A turning point occurred in 2014 when the states of Colorado and Washington decided to legalize and regulate marijuana the same as alcohol. Within a year, millions of dollars in tax revenue were accrued and continued to double almost every year after, with the plant being taxed as high as 30 percent in some cases.
This tax revenue goes primarily to schools for needed upgrades, with a smaller percentage aimed at substance abuse treatment, youth prevention, and public health programs.
In Colorado, data showed there was a 28 percent decrease in youth marijuana use, despite opponents claiming the opposite would inevitably occur. In Washington, arrests from marijuana related crimes plummeted 98 percent and in Colorado arrests were down by 50 percent.
But up until this movement, criminalization has packed the U.S. prison system, giving it the largest incarcerated population in the world. In 2012, there were nearly 750,000 arrests for marijuana-related offenses alone. Often times these arrests are made for non-violent crimes that result in jail time due to mandatory minimum sentences. Unsurprisingly, these arrests disproportionately target minorities.
After Colorado and Washington legalized the recreational sale of marijuana at the state level, it set off a chain reaction of other state initiatives to decriminalize the plant, with 29 states legalizing the plant as medicine. Although it has remained illegal at the federal level, a combination of constitutional doctrines and a Justice Department memo deprioritized the prosecution of the plant.
But now, that memo has been rescinded and government resources may be used again to prosecute the use of a plant with medicinal value that continues to generate revenue for programs that positively impact society. Not to mention the fact that 93 percent of voters in the U.S. support the legalization of cannabis at some level. This will likely perpetuate the cyclical problems from the war on drugs the U.S. has been facing.
With all of the transactions that have been made through sales of marijuana, a government crackdown will likely lead to increased money laundering and more cash on the street. More cash on the street will lead to more crime, robberies, and violence – clearly a step back in the direction from which we came.
Sacred Plant Medicine
In many cultures, psychoactive plants are used as a religious sacrament for rites of passage and shamanic ceremonies. Holistic healing with herbs and plant medicine is very common outside of the western world, and the philosophy behind their use is reflective of the dichotomy between modern medicine and ancient traditions.
Modern medicine is often founded on a distrust of nature and treatment of humans as a machine rather than a being with a soul. Modern medicine’s focus concentrates on the ability to dominate nature and achieve immediate effects, while holistic plant medicine considers the entire health of the body an spirit with gradual solutions.
Caffeine is a psychoactive drug from a plant that society deems acceptable because of its value to the economy; it keeps you alert, productive, and narrowly focused on the task at hand. It’s also an addictive drug that is highly profitable, the perfect tool for a capitalist society. Opioids are another drug that are highly addictive and have created an epidemic in our society, but one the government drags its feet in regulating due to its extreme profitability.
But once a plant medicine begins to expand consciousness and allow a user to think beyond society’s established paradigms, that’s when it begins to become dangerous to the system. These plants are often able to curtail the effects of drug addiction and are non-addictive themselves. Due to these inherent traits, they have very low potential for profit and, in some cases, influence users to question the controlling paradigms our society has established. They are therefore made illegal.
Within the past few decades there have been definitive studies showing plants with psychedelic properties can reverse the effects of depression and addiction. In some cases, including ibogaine, the use of certain psychedelic plants as medicine can cure drug addiction from one dose.
Other organic compounds with similar properties, like psilocybin in mushrooms, are starting to be recognized as effective tools for combatting depression in completely different ways than modern medicine. Unlike most antidepressants that use serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, psilocybin has been found to instead reset a mechanism in the amygdala that is responsible for emotional responsivity.
A recent ballot measure was proposed by a California mayoral candidate to decriminalize mushrooms containing psilocybin. Some believe within the next few years the drug will at least be approved for clinical treatment thanks to the work of groups like MAPS. Unlike marijuana, it’s understood the tax revenue from psilocybin mushrooms won’t be significant. Its approval would be made because of the positive impact it could have on people suffering from untreatable depression.
As these applications for plant medicine are brought to the forefront of public attention with an empirical approach true progress will continue to be made. Scientific facts and data should be given primary consideration over antiquated stigmas, and one person or party’s desire to be right shouldn’t trump society’s demand for alternative plant medicines.
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What is DMT and why is it called "the God molecule"
DMT is a natural substance present in various plants and also in the human body, known for its powerful ability to induce expanded states of consciousness. Its effect has been compared to profound mystical experiences, which has earned it the nickname “the God molecule.”
In this article, we explore what is DMT, how it acts in the body, and why it is associated with the spiritual.
Table of Contents
- What is DMT and how does it act in the human body?
- The link between DMT and the pineal gland
- Link Placeholder
- Effects of DMT on perception and consciousness
- What are the ways DMT is consumed?
- Ayahuasca and DMT: an ancestral connection
- Is it possible to activate DMT naturally?
What is DMT and how does it act in the human body?
DMT, or dimethyltryptamine, is a naturally occurring psychedelic substance with a unique capacity: to facilitate access to non-ordinary realities and expanded states of consciousness. It is found in small amounts in some plants, animals, and also in the human brain. At a chemical level, it belongs to the tryptamine family, and its structure is very similar to serotonin, which explains its deep interaction with the nervous system.
When activated—either naturally or induced—DMT generates highly intense experiences that completely transform the perception of time, the body, and space. If consumed orally, it needs to be combined with enzymatic inhibitors (such as those present in ayahuasca) so that the body does not rapidly degrade it. Once active, it interacts with specific receptors in the brain, opening the door to experiences that many people describe as deeply spiritual and revealing.
What is most fascinating is that the human body produces DMT naturally. Although science is still exploring all its mechanisms, we know that this molecule may be involved in key processes such as dreams, deep meditative states, and near-death experiences. Everything suggests that DMT is a biological tool that allows us to connect with broader dimensions of consciousness.
The link between DMT and the pineal gland
The pineal gland, located at the center of the brain, has been considered since ancient times as a special organ, associated with spiritual perception and inner awakening. Ancestral traditions from different cultures have called it “the third eye” and have linked it to intuitive and transcendental abilities.
Various studies suggest that this gland could be the main source of endogenous DMT in the human body. Although research is ongoing, the presence of the necessary enzymes to synthesize DMT has already been identified in the pineal gland of mammals. This possibility reinforces what many spiritual traditions already intuited: that within the body itself there are natural mechanisms to access expanded realities.
Understanding this connection opens new perspectives on the biology of spirituality. If the pineal gland truly acts as a center for DMT release at key moments—such as birth, deep sleep, mystical ecstasy, or death—we may be facing one of the most valuable keys to understanding our innate capacity for transcendence.
DMT as a spiritual molecule or “the God molecule”
DMT has been called “the God molecule” because many of the experiences it induces coincide with ancient descriptions of mystical states. Those who have experienced it speak of a dissolution of the ego, encounters with entities of higher wisdom, and a profound sense of unity with the universe. This molecule seems to activate, within seconds, gateways that for many only open after years of meditation or intense spiritual practices.
Beyond the anecdotal, the similarities between personal experiences and traditional spiritual accounts are too consistent to be ignored. In cultures around the world, states induced by plants containing DMT have been used for ceremonial, healing, and visionary purposes. Everything indicates that this substance connects human beings with a dimension of consciousness that goes beyond the individual and the rational.
In the series Divine Science, available on Gaia, an entire episode is dedicated to exploring this phenomenon. The chapter DMT: Portals of Perception delves into how this molecule can open new possibilities for conscious evolution, access to other planes, and the understanding of our purpose in the cosmos. Through expert testimony and real experiences, the transformative potential of DMT as a tool for spiritual expansion is revealed.
Effects of DMT on perception and consciousness
The effects of DMT are intense and deeply transformative, even in small doses. At a perceptual level, it modifies the way time, space, personal identity, and connection with the environment are experienced. Below is a summary of some of the most commonly reported effects:
- Ego dissolution: The sense of personal identity temporarily fades. The individual experiences a consciousness without limits or separation.
- Perception of unity: Everything appears to be connected within a coherent network. There is a feeling of merging with the universe, nature, or a higher intelligence.
- Encounters with entities: Many users report having interacted with non-human beings. These presences are often perceived as guides or benevolent intelligences.
- Intensified geometry and light: The visions include vivid geometric patterns and intense colors. The environment becomes dynamic, bright, and charged with energy.
- Access to higher planes: There is a sense of having traveled to other dimensions. In those spaces, information is received that transcends ordinary logic.
What are the ways DMT is consumed?
DMT can be administered in various ways, and each method directly influences the duration, intensity, and nature of the experience. Below are the most common methods of consumption:
- Inhaled or vaporized: This is the fastest and most direct method. It produces an almost instantaneous effect that lasts between 5 and 15 minutes, with an abrupt onset and a highly visual and immersive experience.
- Smoked: Similar to vaporization, but using a pipe or mixed with dried herbs. Pulmonary absorption is rapid and generates an intense, short-lived experience.
- Injected (intramuscular or intravenous): Used mainly in scientific research contexts. It allows precise control of the dose and produces a brief but controlled experience.
- Oral (with MAOIs): It requires combining DMT with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as those found in ayahuasca. This combination allows DMT to become active through the digestive system, prolonging the effects for several hours.
- Insufflated (through the nose): Less common, but used in some traditional preparations such as yopo. It produces rapid effects, although less intense than those of direct inhalation.
Each route of administration opens a different type of perceptual portal, and choosing one over another depends on the context, intention, and level of preparation of the participant.
Ayahuasca and DMT: an ancestral connection
Ayahuasca is a sacred preparation used by Amazonian indigenous cultures since ancient times to access spiritual planes, heal trauma, and receive inner guidance. It combines two plants: Psychotria viridis, which contains DMT, and Banisteriopsis caapi, which provides the natural inhibitors necessary for DMT to be active orally and extend its effects for several hours.
Beyond its composition, ayahuasca is a medicine of consciousness, traditionally administered in ceremonies carefully guided by shamans. These rituals are not merely supportive: they are an energetic and spiritual container that facilitates the process of opening, transformation, and revelation. In this context, DMT is not experienced as an isolated molecule, but as a plant spirit with its own wisdom.
In recent decades, ayahuasca has reached communities around the world seeking profound experiences of inner expansion. When its spiritual dimension is respected and it is integrated with awareness, this medicine offers one of the most powerful and transformative accesses to the spiritual potential of DMT.
Is it possible to activate DMT naturally?
The human body produces DMT endogenously, and although the mechanism is not yet fully understood, there are practices that can promote its release. States such as deep sleep, intense meditation, fasting, and conscious breathing have been linked to neurological changes that could activate the production of this molecule. These techniques have been used for centuries by spiritual traditions seeking to access more subtle planes of reality.
One of the most well-known methods is holotropic breathing, a technique developed by psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, which uses specific breathing patterns to induce altered states of consciousness. It has also been observed that practices such as ecstatic dance, prolonged exposure to darkness, and ceremonial sound can trigger visions or intuitions similar to those generated by DMT. These experiences, although more subtle, can have an equally profound impact.
Activating DMT naturally is not only possible, but it can be part of a conscious and sustained spiritual path. Unlike the external use of psychedelics, these internal pathways require time, practice, and openness, but they offer genuine access to states of expansion that arise from within.
