Natalie Ginsberg
Natalie grew up in New York City and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. As the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Natalie works around the world to the end the "war on drugs," by promoting research and compassionate, evidence-based alternatives. Natalie received an M.S.W from Columbia University School of Social Work, and B.A. in history from Yale College. During her time at graduate school, Natalie worked as a therapist at an alternative-sentencing court for those arrested for prostitution, and as a guidance counselor at a Bronx middle school. Natalie learned from her experience as a therapist that trauma stems from marginalization and harmful policies, which inspired her to shift her focus to policy reform. Before MAPS Natalie worked to end racially-discriminatory marijuana arrests, and successfully legalized medical cannabis in her home state of New York. Natalie is passionate about cannabis and psychedelics' capacity to heal historical, systemic, intersectional trauma, and therefore focuses on issues of access for the most marginalized, traumatized, communities. She is also co-developing a psychedelic reconciliation study working with Palestinians, Israelis, and diasporic Jews and Palestinians.