Request for the re-evaluation of the classification, as narcotics, of ayahuasca in France
Request for the re-evaluation of the classification, as narcotics, of ayahuasca in France
The Issue
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Request for the re-evaluation of the classification, as narcotics, of ayahuasca in France
Ayahuasca is a decoction-infusion of two Amazonian plants, a climbing vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) also called "ayahuasca" and the leaves of a perennial plant (Psychotria viridis). It is a psychotropic drink that produces visionary effects (not hallucinogenic, as some say). It has been used by many Indian tribes in the Amazon rainforest since the dawn of time and still today.
I discovered ayahuasca in a shamanic way in 1996 during a trip to Peru and I came back overwhelmed. A year after my return, I learned of a small group of people in the south of France who were using ayahuasca as part of the religious ritual of "Santo Daime". In truth, I was more attracted to the psychedelic experience of ayahuasca than to the religious experience. But I found in the Santo Daime a practice, a spiritual school that I had been looking for a long time.
“Santo Daime" is a religion, not in the "political" sense, but rather in the "religare" sense (to connect with...)
Virtually unknown in France in 1996 (apart from a few anthropologists), ayahuasca came to the fore in 1999, when I was arrested by the police and charged with drug use and trafficking, by virtue of the "Santo Daime" rituals I was organizing.
The Paris Court of Appeal dismissed these charges because (at the time) ayahuasca was not classified and therefore not on the list of narcotic products. But my victory was short-lived, because three months after this dismissal (April 2005), the Ministry of Health classified and criminalized all the plants and substances that make up our sacred drink, without any consultation with the users that we are of this holy drink, and this, long before they became interested in it.
All attempts at dialogue with the Ministry of Health after the classification were in vain. We then went to the "Conseil d'Etat" to ask it to overturn the classification. The decision of the "Conseil d'Etat" (to sum it up as much as possible) is: "public health comes before religious law". Of course, they based their decision on the (pseudo) scientific arguments of the Ministry of Health, which considers ayahuasca to be a danger to public health.
Our main argument of defense at the time was that banning ayahuasca was an attack on religious freedom, as our sacrament was inseparable from our ritual. But of course, since the "supreme authority" (the Ministry of Health) said: "it's dangerous for public health!" We had nothing more to say.
We know that ayahuasca (used ritualistically) is not dangerous. So we approached the numerous scientific research and discoveries on ayahuasca that have taken place around the world over the last 20 years, with the aim of demonstrating that ritualized ayahuasca is not a public health problem.
We now have a solid case that shows conclusively that ayahuasca is neither toxic nor addictive and therefore not a public health problem.
On October 1, 2019, I was indicted again on the same grounds as in 1999, but this time ayahuasca is classified!
So we want to turn this new challenge into an opportunity and show the French justice system that this classification must be re-evaluated and that the basis of my guilt does not hold.
On September 29, 2021 we sent the Ministry of Health a complete new file that provided proof that ritualized ayahuasca is not dangerous. Our letter, like the previous ones, has remained unanswered.
That is the purpose of this petition... to show the French Ministry of Health that many of us consider that this classification must be re-evaluated so that we can use our sacrament, within the framework of our religious ritual, while respecting the imperatives of public health.
Mr. Minister of Health, please accept to receive us in order to establish a constructive dialogue and to find together the means to meet our just demands.
Say it with us, because the Ministry of Health remains deaf to our calls!
(Pass this petition on to your friends)
Thank you
For those who would like to help even more, here is the link to our crowdfunding (with video and detailed text): https://gofund.me/41029777
6,080
The Issue
Español Italiano Portugues Français
Request for the re-evaluation of the classification, as narcotics, of ayahuasca in France
Ayahuasca is a decoction-infusion of two Amazonian plants, a climbing vine (Banisteriopsis caapi) also called "ayahuasca" and the leaves of a perennial plant (Psychotria viridis). It is a psychotropic drink that produces visionary effects (not hallucinogenic, as some say). It has been used by many Indian tribes in the Amazon rainforest since the dawn of time and still today.
I discovered ayahuasca in a shamanic way in 1996 during a trip to Peru and I came back overwhelmed. A year after my return, I learned of a small group of people in the south of France who were using ayahuasca as part of the religious ritual of "Santo Daime". In truth, I was more attracted to the psychedelic experience of ayahuasca than to the religious experience. But I found in the Santo Daime a practice, a spiritual school that I had been looking for a long time.
“Santo Daime" is a religion, not in the "political" sense, but rather in the "religare" sense (to connect with...)
Virtually unknown in France in 1996 (apart from a few anthropologists), ayahuasca came to the fore in 1999, when I was arrested by the police and charged with drug use and trafficking, by virtue of the "Santo Daime" rituals I was organizing.
The Paris Court of Appeal dismissed these charges because (at the time) ayahuasca was not classified and therefore not on the list of narcotic products. But my victory was short-lived, because three months after this dismissal (April 2005), the Ministry of Health classified and criminalized all the plants and substances that make up our sacred drink, without any consultation with the users that we are of this holy drink, and this, long before they became interested in it.
All attempts at dialogue with the Ministry of Health after the classification were in vain. We then went to the "Conseil d'Etat" to ask it to overturn the classification. The decision of the "Conseil d'Etat" (to sum it up as much as possible) is: "public health comes before religious law". Of course, they based their decision on the (pseudo) scientific arguments of the Ministry of Health, which considers ayahuasca to be a danger to public health.
Our main argument of defense at the time was that banning ayahuasca was an attack on religious freedom, as our sacrament was inseparable from our ritual. But of course, since the "supreme authority" (the Ministry of Health) said: "it's dangerous for public health!" We had nothing more to say.
We know that ayahuasca (used ritualistically) is not dangerous. So we approached the numerous scientific research and discoveries on ayahuasca that have taken place around the world over the last 20 years, with the aim of demonstrating that ritualized ayahuasca is not a public health problem.
We now have a solid case that shows conclusively that ayahuasca is neither toxic nor addictive and therefore not a public health problem.
On October 1, 2019, I was indicted again on the same grounds as in 1999, but this time ayahuasca is classified!
So we want to turn this new challenge into an opportunity and show the French justice system that this classification must be re-evaluated and that the basis of my guilt does not hold.
On September 29, 2021 we sent the Ministry of Health a complete new file that provided proof that ritualized ayahuasca is not dangerous. Our letter, like the previous ones, has remained unanswered.
That is the purpose of this petition... to show the French Ministry of Health that many of us consider that this classification must be re-evaluated so that we can use our sacrament, within the framework of our religious ritual, while respecting the imperatives of public health.
Mr. Minister of Health, please accept to receive us in order to establish a constructive dialogue and to find together the means to meet our just demands.
Say it with us, because the Ministry of Health remains deaf to our calls!
(Pass this petition on to your friends)
Thank you
For those who would like to help even more, here is the link to our crowdfunding (with video and detailed text): https://gofund.me/41029777
6,080
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Petition created on May 9, 2022