Madalyn McElwain, Esq. of DanceSafe Talks Harm Reduction

In this latest episode of Psychedelica Lex, I interview Madalyn McElwain, Esq., Chief Legal Officer for DanceSafe, the nation’s most prominent harm reduction organization.

Madalyn is a fierce advocate for the dismantling of, and healing from, systems of oppression. She believes every individual should have access to healing services and sacred medicine–synthetic and natural alike–to assist in the deconstruction of the harms caused by colonialism, late stage capitalism, drug prohibition, and generational trauma. In her work at DanceSafe, she has helped foster and co-create a human-centered, consent-based workplace where people can show up wholly, and which recognizes the struggle and beauty of the human experience as we strive to enter into a new paradigm.

Madalyn is outspoken about the potential harms of psychedelic exceptionalism and incrementalism in drug policy reform, and imagines equitable policies for psychedelics and other drugs that give the power back to communities and which are rooted in reparations and Indigenous reciprocity. She is an expert on nonprofit compliance and operations, has years of experience serving on nonprofit board of directors, and is a skeptic of moving forward with the legalization and regulation of psychedelics and other drugs under the current extractive dominant culture. Madalyn implores us to remember: the liberation sought by spiritual uses of psychedelics is only attainable when everyone is liberated.

You can watch Madalyn’s interview HERE.