Latinas in Psychedelics: Building Community, Honoring Heritage, and Shaping the Future
Psychedelic medicine has a long, complex history in Latin America. Indigenous groups across Mexico, Central, and South America have used psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, peyote, and other plant medicines for centuries. In Mexico, the Mazatec people’s use of psilocybin mushrooms was first documented by Western researchers in the 20th century, though their sacred ceremonies predate colonization.
Across the region, these traditions are at the core of both cultural identity and community health. Brazil’s regulatory framework protects ayahuasca practices through Indigenous knowledge and constitutional rights.
As psychedelics gain mainstream acceptance in medicine and wellness, Latina voices are stepping forward to ensure these movements respect cultural lineage, increase representation, and create pathways for responsible participation. Latinas in Psychedelics (LiP) is one such organization, founded to uplift, empower, and connect Latinas with a personal, professional, or spiritual relationship to psychedelics.
“Latinas in Psychedelics was created to protect space, visibility, and leadership for Latinas within a rapidly evolving movement,” said Susie Plascencia, founder of both Latinas in Cannabis (LiC) and LiP. “Just as Latinas in Cannabis was founded to ensure Latinas were not left out of an emerging industry tied deeply to our culture and communities, LiP is here to ensure we’re not left behind in psychedelics.”
LiP’s mission is rooted in representation and responsible participation, with a focus on education, cultural respect, access, and ethical leadership. “Psychedelics are gaining support from research and lived experiences, especially in conversations about wellness, healing, mental health, and creativity,” Plascencia said.
The Connection to Latinas in Cannabis
The founding of Latinas in Psychedelics in 2020 is a direct extension of the work begun by Latinas in Cannabis which launched the same year. “These conversations are connected, and our community deserves continuity, not silos,” said Plascencia. She says the organizations are intentionally woven together, building on a proven infrastructure of community-driven events, professional visibility, business support, and strategic partnerships.
“Latinas in Cannabis and now Latinas in Psychedelics are community-first organizations created to ensure Latinas are visible, valued, and supported in industries and movements that are shaping the future of wellness, policy, and culture,” said Mary Carreon, Editor-in-Chief of DoubleBlind magazine who is a member of the group. “What sets us apart is our longevity and integrity. Latinas in Cannabis was founded before it was ‘safe’ or popular to do this work. That same courage and commitment guide Latinas in Psychedelics today.”
Organizational Initiatives and 2026 Vision
LiP is charting a course forward by reflecting many of the initiatives that have made its sister organization trusted and effective. These include: community-driven events and panels, professional visibility and storytelling, business and collective support, strategic brand and nonprofit partnerships.
“Opportunity, community, and cultural accountability are at the center of what we build,” said Carreon. “If you believe in connection over competition and progress rooted in purpose, you belong here.”
For 2026, LiP is expanding its programming to include more culturally responsive education, increased advocacy for policy informed by lived experience, and robust support for Latinas entering or already working in the psychedelics space.
“Policies must be guided by those with lived experience, carried by a strong remembering of heritage and ties to the medicine and traditional knowledge, rather than being driven only by regulators or academic frameworks,” said founding member Amorinda Martinez. “As a Latina in the plant-medicine space, I’ve seen healing rooted in community, ceremony, and lineage. Brazil’s approach, protecting ayahuasca practices through Indigenous knowledge and constitutional protections, shows that policy can honor culture while upholding safety.”
Martinez also emphasized the importance of culturally congruent care: “Ceremony-informed programs should operate with clear safety measures, informed consent, and harm-reduction standards that honor community, traditions, and well-being. Let cultural responsiveness breathe through all policies and training, guiding design, evaluation, and ongoing refinement hand in hand with communities.”
Fighting for Ancestral Medicine and Decriminalization
As psychedelics continue their journey from ancestral medicine to mainstream acceptance, LiP’s leaders say that they remain focused on honoring their origins and securing access for future generations. By building community, fostering leadership, and staying rooted in culture, the members are focusing on advancing a movement that is as much about healing and justice as it is about medicine.
“I’m dedicated to elevating Latinas and BIPOC people’s voices in my healing work,” Martinez said. “As healing grows, power and unity grow louder, together, our voices will demand action.”
The fight to decriminalize plant and fungi medicines is ultimately a fight to restore the autonomy of communities long criminalized for their traditions. “It’s about policy, but it’s also about respect,” said Plascencia. “It’s about ensuring our heritage, our ceremonies, and our voices are not lost in the rush to legalize and commercialize.”
Because of ongoing moderation and frequent removal of pages focused on public education about psychedelics, Latinas in Psychedelics’ social media has been taken down by major platforms. For this reason, Latinas in Cannabis and Latinas in Psychedelics currently share one set of social channels to maintain access to news, events, and resources for their communities. Those interested in learning more about Latinas in Cannabis or Latinas in Psychedelics can follow @latinas_cann on Instagram for the latest updates, announcements, and ways to stay connected.
Featured image: From Latinas in Cannabis Instagram