Our Story
It all begins with an idea.
On 6·20 we recognize a new age of informed perspectives on the beneficial properties of both modern psychedelic compounds and ancient plant medicines and practices.
We humbly aspire to be true allies of the Indigenous Peoples on whose unceded territories we live and work, and whose sacred psychedelic plant medicines have changed so many lives for the better.
What we stand for.
Our Mission.
WPD 6·20 shares frontier science and Indigenous wisdom to create awareness about the safe and therapeutic uses of synthetic and naturally occurring psychedelic medicines. Through traditional and social media, art, and music, this day of celebration and discussion engages and unites the curious and experienced.
Our Vision.
WPD 6·20 envisions a time when synthetic and naturally occurring psychedelic medicines are better understood, made safely and legally available, and appreciated for all their beneficial, wondrous, and sacred uses.
Our Values.
WPD 6·20 upholds the essential values of sustainability, accessibility, diversity, inclusivity, transparency, and justice. We welcome collaborators and allies from across all identities, spectrums, ages, ethnicities, and geographies. Join us – better together!
Indigenous Wisdom & Frontier Science.
6·20 honours the Indigenous wisdom and frontier science that have brought about the current “Psychedelic Renaissance,” a movement which has grown out of the serious, dedicated work of thousands of scientists, therapists, individuals, and organizations challenging the distortions created by prohibition and the War On Drugs. Using social and mainstream media, online discussions, in-person events, art projects and music, 6·20 showcases important insights and increases global awareness of the therapeutic and life-enhancing potential of psychedelics when used responsibly.
International Psychedelics Awareness Foudation.
WPD 620 is a project of International Psychedelics Awareness Foundation, a non-profit organization welcoming collaborators and allies across all identities, spectrums, and geographies and upholding the values of sustainability, accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity.
We humbly aspire to be true allies of the Indigenous Peoples on whose unceded territories we live and work, and whose sacred psychedelic plant medicines have changed so many lives for the better.
Meet the Team
Co Executive Directors
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Co-Executive Director
Recognized with over 55 awards, honours, and nominations, Mark Achbar was the driving force behind the two top-grossing Canadian feature documentaries ever made. His collaboration with Peter Wintonick gave us “MANUFACTURING CONSENT: Noam Chomsky and the Media” (1994) and with Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott, “THE CORPORATION” (2003). Seen globally in theatres and on TV, widely reviewed and pirated, and finally uprezzed and made available on Youtube, each film has accumulated tens of millions of views, and remains widely used by educators.
An Executive Producer on over fifteen feature documentaries, Achbar supported several on psychedelics: Mark Ellam’s “THE JUNGLE PRESCRIPTION” (2011); Oliver Hockenhull’s “NEURONS TO NIRVANA: Understanding Psychedelic Medicines” (2013); Tyler Chandler’s “DOSED: The Trip of a Lifetime” (2022); and Ana Maria Carrizales’ “CHEMICAL CONSENT” (in progress).
In 2021, Achbar founded WorldPsychedelics Day 6·20, with collaborators Sarah Butterfield, Shannon Smadella, and Kathleen Maitland-Carter, celebrated annually around the world ever since. In 2020, with founding creative partner Sarah Butterfield, Achbar created Speakables, an offline speech-to-text tech start-up, to aid the deaf, the hard of hearing, and anyone facing communication challenges in noisy work environments.
Advisory
Dr Andrew Weil
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Co-Executive Director & Creative Director
Artist. Writer. Co-founder of the International Psychedelics Awareness Foundation & artistic director/ researcher for WPD 620. Currently attempting to write a literary novella about the erosion of Trust.
Dr Sandra Dreisbach
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Co-Executive Director & Operations/ Partnerships Director
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Our development group has included: an internationally respected Indigenous leader in inclusion and reconciliation; producer-directors of 100’s of hours of television programming and educational content for high schools and universities; a business consultant and host/producer of several web series on psychedelics; an executive producer of a feature documentaries on psychedelic medicine and a cybernaut youth leader psychology student. Our media output has received over 50 awards and has been widely reviewed. We’ve worked with and interviewed prominent leaders, innovators, scientists, doctors, and luminaries in the psychedelic field.
Our web team includes leading web designers, privacy experts, streaming and video packaging experts, and an award-winning 3D animator.
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CORPORATE FOUNDING DONORS
Nick Fiori
Dr. Lucas C. McCann
Jan Terje Bakler
Polina Privis
Angela Ward, BSN RN-NC, CPTR
Arwah Fathia Mbarak
Cole Pethybridge
Milan Milic -
FOUNDING DONORS
Christopher Petro, MD
Andrew Jackson
Elizabeth
Lori Frick
Dr Elisabeth Serrano
Edelic Center for Ethnobotanical Services
Luciana Carvalho Se
Betsy Wrenn
Mark Gocke
Giorgio Baggi
Marzena MignoneEl Gringo (Dustin Delisle)
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FOUNDING DONORS
Zachary Larson-Rabin
John Robinson
Jade Alexis Sancho-Duser
Todd Lieman
Sally Stride
Lisa & Greg Taylor
Tom Roozendaal
Jeffrey Lee Hayden
Gi Gi
Andrew Weil
Sachia Kron
Yevgeniya Zaiko
Rey (renee) Yoshi de Bakker
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Sponsors
Current & Past
Live Event Partners
Sponsors
Media Partners
In-Kind Donors
Community Partners
