Colombia

Ayahuasca is an uncontrolled substance in Colombia given its important role in some of the religious practices of the country’s indigenous communities. A number of psychedelic retreats exist throughout the country.

Psychedelics in Colombia: A Brief History

The use of psychedelic plants in Colombia dates back thousands of years. Many of these plants were used by indigenous groups during ceremonies for a variety of reasons, be they spiritual or otherwise. Groups such as the Yekwana and Kofan in Colombia have used ayahuasca for thousands of years. In Colombia, this psychoactive brew is known as yagé. It is used in religious ceremonies like the tukanoan Yurupa, an initiation rite at the start of a boy’s adolescence. The Chibcha in Colombia prepared a fermented liquor to which they added morning glory sees (which contain lysergic acid amide) to give to the slaves and the wives of the dead chief before they were buried alive with his corpse.

A number of mushrooms rich in psilocybin grow across Colombia. Though less is known about their historical use, it is presumed that, much like the rest of ancient Central and South America, the use of these mushrooms for spiritual purposes was commonplace in Colombia.

Psychedelics in Colombia Today

Given the legal status surrounding ayahuasca in Colombia, numerous retreats exist across the country. As is the case with many countries that have a long history of using psychedelic plant medicine, tourists flock from all over the world to take part in ceremonies with ayahuasca and other psychedelics.