Entheogenic mushrooms reduce end of life anxiety and depression

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Dear supporter of Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids,

Why prohibit the terminally ill from the right to try entheogens to relieve their anxiety?

There is nothing scarier than facing death due to a terminal diagnosis. The death and dying process demands dignity, including personal sovereignty of those suffering to alleviate their own fear and pain through entheogens. Michigan has long been a leader in respecting the freedoms of the terminally ill the freedom to choose. Entheogens can provide relief from the terror of death and dying and should not be prohibited by policy based on fear rather than science. Who deserves the individual freedom to choose more than those facing death?

Executive Summary:

• Several studies show that psilocybin (active component in psilocybe mushrooms) leads to significant reductions in anxiety and depression in end-stage cancer patients at 3 months and 6 months.

• Canadian federal government has recently granted medical exemptions for four end-of-life patients to be able to use psilocybin.

Supportive articles:

Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial - Roland R Griffiths, Matthew W Johnson, Michael A Carducci, Annie Umbricht, William A Richards, Brian D Richards, Mary P Cosimano, Margaret A Klinedinst, 2016

CNN - The Canadian government is allowing 4 terminally ill patients to use psychedelic mushrooms to help ease their anxiety

Baltimore Magazine - The Existential Medicine

What we ask:

Support those suffering from terminal illnesses to be able to make their own choice about entheogens to reduce their anxiety. Vote to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi.