Dr Marlena Robbins at UC Berkeley SPH | UCB Center for the Science of Psychedelics Fellow invited to participate in the Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group for the Natural Medicine Health Act with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

Dr Robbins writes on her Linked In

Happy to share that I’ve been invited to participate in the Federally Recognized American Tribes and Indigenous Community Working Group for the Natural Medicine Health Act with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

This is the first working group of its kind and hopefully a model for other states, organizations, and companies to learn from when ethically engaging and consulting with Indigenous peoples.

If you know of any other initiatives like this, please share. Interested in learning more about what’s going on out there in psychedelic world when it comes to Tribal engagement.

She can be found on Linked In at

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlena-robbins/

Marlena Robbins, a proud member of the Diné Nation, is pursuing a doctoral degree at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health – Interdisciplinary Studies. Her innovative dissertation research, “Multigenerational Perspectives on Psilocybin Mushrooms Among Urban and Rural Native Communities: A Comparative Study and Policy Analysis”, aims to uncover the complex cultural, social, and policy implications of psilocybin use within Native American communities, contrasting urban and rural perspectives to enrich the discourse on psychedelics in indigenous settings.

Robbins holds the position of Indigenous Science Student Fellow at the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP), where her research is particularly focused on the nuanced understanding of psilocybin mushrooms’ role across generations in urban Native communities. This effort is part of a broader commitment to integrating indigenous knowledge systems with psychedelic science, highlighting the potential for psilocybin to address mental health and community well-being within Tribal Nations.

In her capacity as a Graduate Student Researcher for the BCSP’s Certificate Program in Psychedelic Facilitation, Robbins is instrumental in shaping the program’s evolution. Her responsibilities include developing surveys and conducting both qualitative and quantitative data analysis to refine the program’s structure.

Her collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has led to the development of a tribal engagement toolkit, showcasing the historical and contemporary significance of psychedelics in spiritual and recreational contexts among Native American communities. This initiative marks a significant step towards understanding and respecting the complex relationship between indigenous cultures and psychedelic substances.

Through her visionary dissertation, impactful fellowship, and collaborative projects, Robbins is contributing to the academic landscape while also forging pathways for more inclusive and culturally sensitive approaches to psychedelic science. Her work promises to illuminate the multifaceted roles of psilocybin mushrooms within Native communities and pave the way for policies that honor both traditional knowledge and modern therapeutic potentials. As Robbins continues to navigate the complexities of this field, her efforts stand as a beacon of innovation and respect for cultural heritage, signaling a hopeful direction for the future of psychedelics research and policy.