About
Through community organizing, public education, and policy advocacy, DPMI is working to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms across Michigan.
About
Through community organizing, public education, and policy advocacy, DPMI is working to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms across Michigan.
Mission Statement
Decriminalize Psilocybin Michigan (DPMI) promotes public education and policy reform to decriminalize personal, non-commercial use of psilocybin mushrooms in Michigan by providing research-backed information and engaging with local communities. We seek to shift outdated laws and reduce criminal penalties that harm public health and personal freedom.
Meet our team
DPMI is a coalition of advocates, educators, community organizers & volunteers dedicated to decriminalizing psilocybin and expanding access to nature's abundant medicines. United by a shared belief in individual sovereignty, we work together to inform and empower communities to stand up for the right to heal ourselves.
Chris Kurtz
Director
Elaina Sims
Director
Cecilia Infante
Director
Michelle Donaldson
Director
How we create change
Community Education
DPMI is bringing communities together across Michigan for open, research-informed conversations about the benefits of psilocybin, community activation and the latest developments in education & policy.
Coalition Building
Renewed focus on the benefits of psilocybin is bringing together veterans, healthcare professionals, spiritual practitioners and criminal justice reform advocates who recognize the need for safe & sensible psilocybin policy. Together, we're creating common ground for change that transcends politics and prioritizes people.
Policy Advocacy
DPMI works with local governments and state officials to advance decriminalization efforts, providing research, community testimony and model policy language.
Grassroots Organizing
DPMI empowers local organizers across Michigan to build support in their own communities, creating a statewide network of advocates for reform.
Why Psilocybin Matters for Healing
Research demonstrates that psilocybin experiences can produce increased openness—a personality trait linked to creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for new experiences. These changes often persist long after the experience itself.
Mental Health Benefits
Psilocybin Shows Remarkable Promise for Mental Health Treatment.
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Clinical research demonstrates that psilocybin can produce significant, lasting reductions in depression symptoms—even for people who haven't responded to conventional antidepressants or therapy. Studies show improvements that persist for months after treatment.
Anxiety Disorders
Psilocybin therapy has shown effectiveness in reducing anxiety symptoms, particularly when combined with supportive therapeutic settings. Research indicates it can help people process difficult emotions and develop healthier thought patterns.
PTSD and Trauma
Studies reveal that psilocybin may help individuals process traumatic memories and reduce PTSD symptoms by lowering psychological defenses and enabling new perspectives on past experiences. Veterans and trauma survivors report meaningful healing.
End-of-Life Anxiety
Research with cancer patients facing terminal diagnoses shows that psilocybin dramatically reduces death anxiety and improves quality of life. Patients report finding peace, acceptance, and renewed meaning during their final months.
Addiction Recovery
Clinical trials demonstrate psilocybin's potential in treating alcohol and tobacco addiction, with participants showing significantly higher quit rates compared to conventional treatments. The experiences often help people understand root causes of addictive behaviors.
Safety & Research
Decades of Research Confirm Psilocybin's Safety Profile
Physically Safe
Psilocybin is considered one of the safest psychoactive substances known, with no risk of physical addiction or organ damage. Medical research consistently demonstrates an excellent safety profile when used in appropriate settings.
Non-Habit Forming
Unlike many pharmaceutical medications and recreational substances, psilocybin does not create physical dependence or withdrawal symptoms. Studies show extremely low potential for abuse or compulsive use patterns.
FDA Breakthrough Therapy
In 2018, the FDA designated psilocybin as a "breakthrough therapy" for treatment-resistant depression, acknowledging its significant therapeutic potential and fast-tracking research. This recognition reflects growing scientific consensus about its medical value.
Growing Clinical Evidence
Major research institutions including Johns Hopkins University and Imperial College London are conducting rigorous clinical trials that continue to validate psilocybin's therapeutic benefits. Published studies in peer-reviewed journals demonstrate consistent positive results.
Lasting Positive Effects
Research shows that psilocybin experiences can produce benefits that persist for months or even years after a single session. Participants report sustained improvements in mood, life satisfaction, and overall well-being.
Traditional & Spiritual Use
Thousands of Years of Sacred Medicine Traditions
Ancient Wisdom
Rooted in Indigenous and ancestral traditions, psilocybin has been used for millennia in healing, ceremony and connection with nature & self. These traditions guide our modern understanding of psilocybin as both medicine and a bridge to the natural world. We honor that ancient wisdom and seek to integrate it with modern research creating pathways for respectful and community-centered healing.
Indigenous Knowledge
First peoples across the globe have recognized psilocybin as sacred teachers and healing medicines for millennia. In Mesoamerica the Aztecs referred to psilocybin as "Teonanácatl" or "divine mushroom.
Spiritual Growth
For millennia, people have used psilocybin to facilitate spiritual experiences, explore consciousness, and connect with something greater than themselves. Many describe profound feelings of unity, transcendence, and sacred connection.
Ceremonial Context
Traditional use typically occurs within ceremonial settings utilizing intention, preparation, and community support. These time-honored practices emphasize respect, reverence, and integration of insights gained.
Reconnection to Nature
Psilocybin experiences often foster a renewed sense of connection to the natural world and living systems. Users frequently report increased environmental consciousness and appreciation for nature's wisdom.
Personal Transformation
Psilocybin Can Catalyze Meaningful Personal Change
Increased Openness
Research demonstrates that psilocybin experiences can produce lasting increases in openness—a personality trait linked to creativity, curiosity, and appreciation for new experiences. These changes often persist long after the experience itself.
Enhanced Empathy
Studies show that psilocybin can increase feelings of empathy and emotional connection with others. Participants report improved relationships, greater compassion, and deeper understanding of other perspectives.
Life-Changing Experiences
Research participants consistently rank psilocybin experiences among the most meaningful events of their lives—comparable to the birth of a child or death of a loved one. Many describe profound insights that reshape their values and priorities.
Ego Dissolution
Psilocybin can temporarily dissolve the sense of separate self, leading to feelings of unity and interconnection. This experience often helps people release rigid thought patterns, desynchronize the brain and see themselves & the world in new ways.
Personal Insights
Users frequently report gaining clarity about life challenges, relationships, and personal purpose. The altered perspective can reveal patterns, inspire solutions, change self-talk, and motivate positive behavioral changes.
