Potentialities and Challenges of Ayahuasca in the Psychedelic Renaissance

As ayahuasca goes mainstream, many dilemmas emerge, such as sexual abuse by some ayahuasqueros, the commodification of sacred plants, the sanitization of traditional practices, and the local impacts of ayahuasca tourism. Conversely, there are also legitimate claims, such as the Indigenous reciprocity initiative, the need for decolonial philanthropy, and the importance of religious freedom for ayahuasca. In light of this, this presentation will draw attention to ayahuasca’s history and sociocultural aspects and the importance of promoting critical thinking, cultural understanding, and legitimacy around the topic of sacred plants and cultural traditions. The goal is to present some of the main current perspectives on research, the recent controversies on the public debate, and more importantly, the challenges that Indigenous peoples, traditional populations, and religious groups face in the world ayahuasca diaspora.