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Fighting For Psychedelic Science and Cognitive Liberty

Help Us Change The Law To Protect Research and Individual Liberty

Mission Statement

The Rights and Reason Project is a dedicated legal and advocacy initiative designed to defend psychedelic research, challenge unjustified drug scheduling, and protect access to promising therapies. We support individuals' fundamental rights to cognitive liberty, bodily autonomy, religious use of entheogens, and freedom of thought.  Through strategic litigation, public education, and policy advocacy, we aim to dismantle punitive drug laws, challenge infringements on mental autonomy, and promote equitable and evidence-based reforms that empower individuals to make decisions about their minds and bodies free from unnecessary governmental interference. We are building a powerful legal infrastructure to safeguard psychedelic science, prevent overregulation, accelerate the path to medical acceptance, and protect bodily autonomy.


By leveraging litigation, policy advocacy, and strategic legal action, we are fighting to ensure scientific progress is not derailed and outdated drug laws do not infringe upon individual liberties.


With your support, we can build a powerful legal infrastructure to safeguard psychedelic science, prevent overregulation, accelerate the path to medical acceptance, and protect individual liberty.

Challenging Drug Scheduling

The Fight to Save DOI and Psychedelic Research

Colorful Laboratory Glassware

Historic Hearing at DEA Headquarters

November 2024

First Hearing in 40 Years Challenging the Scheduling of a Psychedelic Drug Conducted for Six Days at DEA Headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

Fighting for Science and Research

October 2024

SSDP/Ramos Team Win Legal Battle Over DEA Objections To Present Testimony and Evidence of Research Harms Caused by Drug Scheduling

Request For Hearing Filed

January 2024

SSDP and Dr. Raul Ramos File Request For Hearing Challenging DEA's Notice That They Intend to Add DOI and DOC to Schedule I

DEA Judge Schedules Ten-Day Hearing

July 2024

DEA Administrative Law Judge Paul E. Soeffing Schedules Ten-Day Hearing on the Scheduling of DOI and DOC.

Key Project Areas

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1. Legal Challenges to Drug Scheduling and Rescheduling Efforts

  • Stopping DOI/DOC from being added to Schedule I: Continuing the landmark legal battle to preserve these vital research chemicals critical to psychedelic science and research and establishing research harm as a factor in all scheduling decisions.

  • Initiating legal challenges to stop the adding of 7 HO Mitragynine to Schedule I by the DEA.

  • Fighting Unjustified Scheduling: Monitor and legally challenge efforts to place new substances into restrictive schedules without scientific and factual evidence justifying classification.

  • Litigation for Descheduling: File lawsuits to challenge the classification of substances like MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin under Schedule I, arguing against their scheduling based on medical research and safety data.

  • Amicus Briefs & Expert Testimony: Support lawsuits with expert testimony, scientific briefs, and advocacy highlighting the medical potential of psychedelics and other substances.

2. Preserving and Expanding Psychedelic and Other Drug Research

  • Defending Psychedelic Research: Engage in legal action when government agencies obstruct studies on psychedelics’ medical potential.

  • Regulatory Advocacy: Work with policymakers and legal experts to challenge unnecessary restrictions on research access to Schedule I substances.

  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests: Obtain and publish documents on government decisions that limit psychedelic research. Social media monitoring attempts to subvert privacy protections

3. Legal Defense for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Religious Use of Entheogens

  • Advocating for Religious and Medical Exemptions: Support legal efforts to ensure religious and therapeutic access to psychedelics.

  • Supporting Researchers, Facilitators, Guides, and Religious Use: Provide legal resources and representation to scientists, therapists, and religious practitioners seeking to use psychedelics in their work.

  • Challenging DEA Overreach: Challenge unjust DEA actions that threaten psychedelic science, research, religious use, and cognitive liberty.

4. Protecting Access to Abortion & Emergency Contraception

  • Litigation Against Restrictions: Challenge state and federal policies restricting access to abortion medications (e.g., mifepristone and misoprostol) and emergency contraception.

  • Defending Distribution Networks: Provide legal defense for individuals and organizations distributing abortion and emergency contraception drugs.

  • Public Education & Advocacy: Inform the public about legal rights related to abortion medications and contraception access.

5. Building a Legal Network & Clearinghouse

  • Attorney Network for Drug Policy Reform: Create and maintain a network of pro-bono and movement-aligned lawyers to support legal cases and advocacy efforts.

  • Clearinghouse for Legal Resources: Develop a central repository of legal briefs, case law, regulatory challenges, and best practices for attorneys, researchers, and advocates.

  • Advocacy Training: Educate activists, students, and medical professionals on legal risks and defenses related to drug policy reform and reproductive rights.

6. Legislative & Policy Advocacy

  • State & Federal Policy Reform: Work with lawmakers to draft and promote legislation that supports descheduling and oppose additional scheduling at the state and federal levels, harm reduction, research expansion, and access to psychedelics.

  • Tracking Legal Precedents and Statutes: Monitor key court cases and legislation to proactively respond to legal threats.

  • Coalition Building: Partner with organizations in drug policy, scientific research, reproductive rights, and civil liberties to amplify impact.

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