Melanie is a Filipina, community organizer and grassroots activist based in Denver. She has been on the frontlines of cannabis and psychedelic advocacy for nearly a decade. Her involvement as one of six petitioners behind Denver’s 2019 ballot initiative to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms led her on the path of sacred activism and healing trauma with entheogenic plants and fungi. Melanie has been instrumental in changing and creating new laws pertaining to cannabis and natural, sacred medicine in Denver, Washington DC and Colorado. In this talk, she'll share stories about her lived experience and provide background, tips to navigating Colorado's political landscape and how to participate in civil engagement. Melanie is the Founder of Influential X, Co-founder of local nonprofit Expunge Colorado and Co-creator of BIPOC Psychedelic, a new community organization that is BIPOC-led and for the BIPOC community.

Presentation title, A Path to Healing, Lessons Learned and Insights from almost a Decade in Cannabis and Psychedelic Activism in Denver, Colorado

Ant Life (venue), Rescheduled to 7-8:30pm Wednesday 25 September

Return to Perspectives on Psychedelics

Questions? Marty Otañez, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor, Anthropology Department, CU Denver