01/10/2026
Something I hear and see a lot is fear around plants.
People are afraid to work with the herbs growing around them. Afraid of psychedelics. Afraid of anything that gets placed under the word “drugs.”
And I understand why.
We grow up hearing “don’t do drugs.”
We see the stories in the media.
We inherit beliefs, warnings, and associations that can make the word itself feel dangerous.
But are all of these things really the same?
Psychedelics, medicinal herbs, opioids, stimulants, and other psychoactive substances can have very different properties, effects, risks, histories, and uses.
Putting them all into one category called “drugs” can erase those differences.
And I wonder how much curiosity, knowledge, and connection with plants we lose because of that single word.
Some plants have been used as medicines for generations. Some substances can also carry serious risks. Both things can be true.
For me, this isn’t about romanticising plants or saying “natural = safe.”
It’s about becoming more precise with our language and more curious about what we’re actually talking about.
Because sometimes, changing the word changes the question.
Do you think ‘drug’ is too broad a word?”