Hi everyone, and welcome to The Grandfather Project. I wanted to give a little primer on what we've been up to, since launching in early Jan 2021.
This project has one goal, and that is to ensure reciprocity and research for plant medicine. We are starting with San Pedro (aka Huachuma), a critically underfunded and misunderstood plant medicine with its origins dating back over 3,500 years in South America, and most prominently, the Sacred Valley of Peru. This medicine saved my own life, and many others over the centuries.
It is our belief that studying Huachuma, in an ethical way, can help millions of people and provide relief to those who suffer from mental health disorders. But studying a plant medicine brings up many complex ethical questions, and differs distinctly from the study of molecules made in labs (like traditional anti-depressants such as SSRIs, Xanax, or even cutting edge stuff like MDMA)
The first, and most obvious distinction, is that San Pedro is for the most part, illegal in most western countries if taken as a medicine, although the cactus itself can be purchased at your local home depot. Complex legal structures exist to enable the study of it, and as a result, makes it important that we partner with established institutions with an appropriate track record.
But much more importantly, Huachuma, like many other indigenous technologies, is a part of a deep and ancient culture. When westerners first arrived on the shores of South America, temples were destroyed, priests killed, and much of knowledge destroyed. It is only because brave indigenous people preserved the medicine, its preparation and its' lineage that it is around today. The tragic tale of individual westerners looking to spread the gospel of plant medicine is well established
María Sabina, the indigenous woman who revealed the psychedelic mushroom to the Western world, was exploited by western entrepreneurs for profit, and ultimately died in poverty. In what world are we ok with westerners being healed while experts like Maria do not get their fair due? 
There is a tension here that cannot be ignored. Principles of Western science desire open gates on information and many scientists see science as a pursuit to democratize knowledge. Indigenous people are wary of this story, as many scientists historically have travel to their communities, gained fame and relative wealth as a result, and returned little to the communities where their initial knowledge came from. How do we find a way forward with these tensions, in order to integrate the plants into modern societies with reciprocity, honor and respect?
Our project starts with a simple idea, and walks a path between worlds.
Do you want to help study plant medicine and give back to communities in the Sacred Valley of Peru?
All you have to do is cop the world’s most comfortable hoodie, made just for you with organic cotton, and an organic dye made in the color of The San Pedro Cactus.
We will take care of the rest, by donating all profits to indigenous led efforts in the Sacred Valley, and by funding a research project at a major research institution to study San Pedro in an ethical way. We also will establish a circle of elders, combining scientists and indigenous leaders where ethical questions of this sort can be discussed, to contribute to this crucial area of study.
We weave in cactus silk, and make everything locally from an ethical supply chain. Our goal is to raise a total of $350,000 for the funding, support and study of this plant medicine and the communities surrounding it.
In the coming days, weeks and months, we will share more about how the proceeds will be used, how we can give back, and what the plan is to help as many as we can, together, as one community.
Welcome to The Grandfather Project!
