Title
Resolution Declaring September Entheogenic Plant and Fungi Awareness Month in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Body
Whereas, Substance abuse, addiction, recidivism, trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, chronic depression, severe anxiety, end of life anxiety, grief, cluster headaches, and other debilitating conditions are present in our community;
Whereas, The use of entheogenic plants/fungi has been shown by scientific and clinical studies and traditional practices to be beneficial to the health and well-being of individuals and communities in addressing these conditions, as well as personal spiritual growth;
Whereas, practices with entheogenic plants/fungi have been considered sacred to human cultures and human relationships with nature for thousands of years;
Whereas, Clinical studies and research in the U.S., Canada and Europe have shown the safety and efficacy of entheogenic plants/fungi for treating a variety of mental health illnesses going back to the 1960s;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor on September 21, 2020 made entheogenic plants the lowest law enforcement priority and on January 12, 2021 Washtenaw County released a similar entheogenic plant policy, and a sacred plant and mushroom festival (Entheo Fest) will become an annual in event in September of every year in Ann Arbor starting on September 19, 2021.
Whereas, The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Psilocybin for use in major depressive disorders; Psilocybin has been shown to ease treatment resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, and cluster headaches, Ibogaine has been shown to be an effective treatment for opiate addiction, and Ayahuasca studies are currently underway to better understand its ability to address depression, and substance dependence; and
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor City Council hereby proclaim September, to be Entheogenic Plant and Fungi Awareness Month in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor City council calls upon our citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, and businesses, to commit to increasing the awareness and understanding of the potential benefits of entheogens for mental health, personal and spiritual growth, as well as honoring the long standing ancestral practices and relationships with entheogens.
References:
Entheogens for Personal and Spiritual Growth
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Historical Use of Entheogens
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Psilocybin for End-of-Life Anxiety
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Psilocybin and Treatment-Resistant Depression
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Entheogens and Reduced Recidivism
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Psilocybin and Cluster Headaches
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Iboga/lbogaine for Addiction Therapy
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Ayahuasca for Addiction Therapy
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Ayahuasca and Depression
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de L. Osorio, F., et al. (2015). Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca inpatients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report. Revista Brasileira dePsiquiatria 37(1), pp. 13-20.
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