TITLE
Should modern psychedelic medicine take lessons from the ceremonial traditions?

ABSTRACT
As psychedelic medicine comes closer and closer to being a reality in many Western countries we find that the psychedelic experience - so different from anything modern medicine is used to working with - present us with a host of new practical, relational, ethical, economic and cultural challenges. On the other hand -and often on the other side of the world- there are a number of cultures and traditions that have been engaging with similar substances and similar challenges for hundreds of years. Can modern psychedelic medicine learn any lessons from these traditions?

Jerónimo Mazarrasa will draw from his 20-year experience with a wide range of ayahuasca practices and traditions as well as a 10 year experience developing minimum safety standards and self-regulation protocols for ayahuasca facilitators working outside of the Amazon. This talk will be of value to anyone interested in the pragmatic and human aspects of facilitating experiences with psychedelics outside of traditional contexts.

BIOGRAPHY
Jerónimo Mazarrasa is an ayahuasca community activist. He works as Social Innovation Coordinator for ICEERS, and is a founding member of the Plantaforma (Platform for the Defense of Ayahuasca in Spain). Over the past 5 years he has devoted most of his energy to engaged research and innovation exploring how ceremonial plant practices can be integrated outside of their cultures of origin. He has traveled extensively through South America, researching a broad range of ayahuasca practices and has lectured internationally about ayahuasca tourism and the appropriation of indigenous knowledge.