Jessica Fitzmaurice, ASN, RN and Tarin S Hale, JD, Esq - Attorney-at-Law
Jessica Fitzmaurice, RN,
Co-Director, Decriminalize Nature Northwest Arkansas
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Jessica Fitzmaurice is a registered nurse, mother of five, an enthusiastic mountain biker and a lover of the outdoors where she finds a deep connection in nature. Jessica also has suffered from unresponsive severe depression and anxiety for the past 20 years. After researching the research on psilocybin and microdosing as a treatment for depression
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Jessica tried growing psilocybin mushrooms for microdosing as a treatment and was successful in both regards. Her efforts did not go unnoticed and her âgrow operationâ was disclosed to the authorities. During an early morning raid in hazmat suits, Jessicaâs operation was confiscated, and she was arrested. Jessica was charged with manufacturing a schedule 1 substance and faced up to 30 years in prison. She will share what happened next in her interview. Since this time when her felony conviction was reduced to a misdemeanor and her nursing license is in the process of being reinstated. During her probation Jessica completed specialized training in psychedelic therapy and integration through the VITAL program. Jessica is a passionate advocate for the Decriminalization of Psychedelics and the Right to Try these compounds for life saving transformational experiences. Jessica strongly believes that individuals should not have to face the legal repercussions she experienced for cultivating, sharing, or using these natural, sacred compounds.
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Tarin S. Hale, Esq
Attorney-at-Lawâââ
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Tarin has been practicing law in Ohio for over 30 years. Starting out in a small town and navigating his way through many areas of practice, Tarin offers a holistic approach to his practice of law and his clients. Â In 1999, Tarin received national attention for his defense of a 12-year-old accused of murder based on a false confession. The case was featured on ABCâs 20/20 news program in 1999, and it was revisited for a 2-hour special in 2020, titled "Gone Before the Storm." The injustice of that case was a turning point for Tarin, triggering a series of events sending him into a personal/spiritual crisis. active-duty a severe depression, Tarin was guided to plant based spiritual work that he credits with saving his life.
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Since that time, Tarin has melded his law practice with advocacy for entheogenic plant sacraments and the related legal issues. While most of his work has been out of public view, several recent projects have received some public attention. In 2021, Tarin intervened in Jessicaâs case utilizing his extensive contacts in the psychedelic community to quickly recruit six experts from across the country to write opinions in support of the nurse. In 2022-23, Tarin also worked behind the scenes in assisting Lt. Sarko Gregerian to become the first active-duty police officer to receive permission from his department to attend a âPsychedelic Church.â Â Tarinâs approach to entheogenic sacred plant work is to focus on the Spiritual/Religious context, which he believes is at the core of the transformational/mystical experiences.