MIke Maki is a close friend, a completely ethical, kind, and decent person who has helped many people. I have known him for over twenty years, and in that time I can sincerely say that I have come to know a man whose character is impeccable. Now he has run into some trouble; he was recently arrested for growing and distributing psilocybin mushrooms in his home state of Washington. Rather than 'cave' and rat on his associates, as would be the usual pattern in Federal cases of this sort, Mike has chosen to fight back. He is using the power of the Internet to question the wisdom of Schedule 1 status for psilocybin and related sacred medicines. Many of these substances were dumped into Schedule 1 in the late 60's in a fit of legislative hysteria, without any evidence that they were actually dangerous or lacked medical applications. Enough research has accumulated since to indicate that these substances, far from being without therapeutic value, in fact have the potential to help many people afflicted with the sickness of the soul that is so prevalent in our society. It's time to re-examine the entire issue of the schedule 1 status of sacred medicines, and Mike is using his misfortune to put the issue on the table for broader discussion and hopefully for reconsideration. Here is a link to his blog: http://www.mushroomman.org/
Mike needs our help now. If you believe in this cause, please support him with a modest donation through Paypal. If you are unable to support him with a donation, please help by spreading the word to others of like mind. We may actually have the chance to change the tone of the conversation about sacred medicines such as psilocybin mushrooms and their proper role in our society.

Following up my previous post, I'm pasting in a personal letter from Mike Maki that will give more details on the situation and that appeals for your help. Some may ask, 'Why am I doing this?' Aren't you risking your reputation? To the latter I'm inclined to say, 'what reputation?' More to the point, it's simple: Friends should stand up for friends. Mike is the best friend a man could have, and I am doing what I can to help him in his hour of need. He would do no less for me, or any one of us.

Dennis

Hello-

I write this to you following a set of most unfortunate circumstances that happened to me recently. On October 20 I was arrested by the DEA for cultivation and distribution of magic mushrooms, Psilocybe cubensis. This came apparently at the end of a considerable investigation. Four others were also arrested, including my son Peter. This will come to some of you as brand new news, and to some of you as not-so-news. I don't advertise my interest in mushroom cultivation or their intelligent and therapeutic use, but neither do I try to lie about my interests. As I consider you all my friends, I assume that you in turn can appreciate the enthusiasm, honesty and honor with which I approach all of my many and varied interests and activities. I have proceeded these years on a need-to-know basis, since the current illegal status of these medicinal plants, etc. makes it appropriate to keep a more or less low profile. Now the mushrooms are out of the bag, so to speak, and I am going to speak out from my experience and conviction (pun intended!). My new blog, www.mushroomman.org will be the location of this discussion, and I encourage you to check it out, it will have much of general interest and I think you'll enjoy following my story.

Part of what the Feds will be trying to do is seize my property and all assets. This will be a lengthy and expensive legal struggle to hang on to my home and property. I am now reaching out to you, my friends, for your support and assistance. While I can't offer you a tax deduction, what I can offer and promise is that I will "Pay it forward" to help make my efforts to protect civil liberties serve the greater good. In short, I need your help right now to help with the legal costs that are coming my way and to my codefendants. Money orders or checks made out to Mike Maki will be greatly appreciated and well used. As you must know, I'm not used to asking for assistance and am usually on the other side of the equation, helping out in what ways I can to make our lives and planet better. Now it's my time to ask for your generous assistance.

In my new blog, www.mushroomman.org I will relate the story as it unfolds, give you my background story, analyze the situation from my own as well as other perspectives. I think you'll enjoy learning from my experiences. You will also note an advertisement for my own production of holiday garlands. A link is provided below. Feel free to share this with like-minded folks, and encourage them to contribute. Let's build a network of light and mutual support.

For the benefit of all concerned, Mike Maki

PO Box 126 Hoquiam, WA 98550
360-987-2332 Skype: makimichael

http://mushroomman.org/

Thanks for posting this. I hope this will make a difference, legally speaking. It'll definitely help in raising awareness. The guy promotes an attitude that is counter-intuitive to what most people believe these so called drugs do, so at least some of them will start questioning what they know.

and why couldn't he sell stuff like caapi instead

Yes i know he's the Mushroomman as called by the prisoners. I did read all his site, thanks. yes he tries to help people. But what he did was against the law.

-Good luck to him trying to change the law!

>>he was set up, but knew he was taking a big risk. I would say he was nice, but foolish, and now he's up against the heavy handed arm of the law.

What he should have done if he was gonna do this work, was petition for their legality and get them legal , BEFORE he started distributing them. It's not gonna look good him trying to do that now that he's been done, is it??/ in fact this is exactly what any "criminal" does when caught, plead their innocence and try to "wriggle out of it".