GROW – GATHER – GIFT
MODEL FOR DECRIMINALIZATION
The Decriminalize Nature organization focuses on the grow – gather – gift model when working towards helping individuals and communities reconnect with entheogenic plants and fungi.
What is the Grow – Gather – Gift Model for Entheogens?
- Grow: You should be able to grow plants and mushrooms freely without government or corporate influence or limitation
- Gather: You should be able to sustainably gather entheogens from the ground and in gather together in community
- Gift: You should be able to share Mother Nature’s entheogenic gifts with others
“The Grow, Gather, Gift model encourages a community-oriented and sustainable approach as it emphasizes personal cultivation, responsible gathering from nature, sharing within trusted networks, and fostering a deeper connection to community and nature.”
Why does Decriminalize Nature oppose limits?
Decriminalize Nature opposes any legislation that imposes limits on naturally occurring entheogenic plants and fungi.
Limits are just another way of saying, “When can we start arresting people?”—this is not true decriminalization.
Restrictions undermine the grow-gather-gift model, which is essential for providing marginalized communities, often excluded from healthcare access, with healing medicines.
Limits also stifle the development of a local economy where people can grow, experiment, and share plant medicines to refine their craft. Worse, limits create arrestable thresholds for possession and transportation, leading to the increased criminalization of already-vulnerable communities of color and low-income groups. People aren’t arrested for possessing large amounts of tobacco or alcohol, or even for storing poisonous mushrooms.
Remove limits and allow culture to emerge organically.
“[Growing] inspires this integrated relationship between human and plant; just a person growing a plant, there’s a special thing that happens where you realize how alive it is.
When you’re growing and you see lime green at the top of something that didn’t have it before, that’s a new leaf, and to realize that this thing is alive, and that it already has its own, sort of physical personality that it’s developed in your little pot in your house or on the outside of your house, that’s amazing. I think that’s the start of a bigger conversation that moves forward as you interact with the substance, as you ingest it…” – M.K.
Hear what Larry has to say…
Larry Norris, PhD, is the co-founder of Decriminalize Nature, a board member, and our national organizing director.
An insightful video by Normalize Psychedelics that delves into the pros and cons, the potential impact on society, and the ethical considerations of decriminalizing entheogens. This conversation focuses on the future of psychedelic therapy and drug policy.
This video explores the movement to change policies and uplift awareness about the benefits of plants and mushrooms for mental health and spiritual growth. Learn how decriminalizing nature can transform our consciousness and reconnect us with ancient traditions.