What the prosecutor said was,“ I can’ t believe her original lawyer did absolutely nothing for Fitzmaurice in this case,” said Hale in the OPENurses interview with a seemingly sigh of relief.
“ Finally, after months of review and negotiations, the prosecutor agreed to drop it down to a single charge of felony possession with 90 days of house arrest followed by a year and a half probation,” said Hale after waiting months for Fitzmaurice’ s court cases to process to be able to share her story. Ultimately, Fitzmaurice’ s charge was further reduced to a misdemeanor after she completed the probation.
You can find those speakers’ lectures by scanning the Psychedelic Conference QR code at the end of this article.
“ My heart sits with the freedom to have access to the spirituality of psychedelics, and the only way we are going to get there is if we open up, talk about it, educate, change legalization policy, and break the stigma,” concluded Fitzmaurice.
( NOTE to the reader: There is so much more to both Fitzmaurice and Hale’ s stories that can be found online at the QR links at the end of this article.)
Currently, in Missouri, the only legal psychedelic assisted therapy available is through Ketamine Clinics like Thrive & Be Well with Amanda D. Martini, MA, LPC( speaking), and Chiwoo Choi, MA, LPC( right). Both spoke at the conference with testimonies from one of their patients, Tamela Candler( on left).
“ The Decrim movement is about responsible adults having access to these compounds that have no history of any real danger or addiction, but in fact, current research shows they are very promising for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and PTSD issues. People like Jessica should have the right to try these compounds to save their lives without being treated like criminals,” concluded Hale.
The dawn of the psychedelic decriminalization movement peaked its first light in Springfield last month with guest speaker Tarin S. Hale, ESQ( on right), organized by Josh Wahba( left) and the Psychedelic Society of the Ozarks.( Photos by Clayton Stallings)
Fitzmaurice has since moved to NW Arkansas to find a community that truly supports her growth and healing integration, where she has turned her true-life nightmare into fuel for inspiration to start a new chapter of the National Organization of Decriminalizing Nature in NW Arkansas. Her story and speakers from past conferences can be found at www. decrimnaturenwa. org.
“ We’ ve spent numerous hours speaking with city council members in Bella Vista and Bentonville, AR, including police members and the fourth judicial drug task force, educating all of them on the benefits of these plants. And it starts by attending city council meetings, so they know who we are,” explained Fitzmaurice during an interview with me and Hale.
Decriminalize NW Arkansas hosts Monthly Education Nights, with the next one on October 21 at the Fayetteville Library from 6- 7:30 p. m. They alternate between Bentonville and Fayetteville every other month, featuring guest speakers who continue to educate the public.
Both Fitzmaurice and Hale continue to break the stigma of psychedelics by volunteering their time, stories, and expertise, including most recently at the Psychedelic Conference held in Springfield last month. There, scientists, therapists, and professionals from many different fields gathered to share their expertise in the psychedelic movements occurring locally, nationally, and globally.
Amazingly, when Hale isn’ t using his powers to protect, he is opening up new portals for protection and access in the form of helping a new type of peacekeeper within our police forces. Learn more about the psychedelic legalization topic by reading Dolores Halbin’ s article on page 38.
QR code for the OPENurses Facebook full Interview. �
� QR code for National Organization of Decriminalizing Nature in NW Arkansas website and speakers from past conferences
QR code for Psychedelic Conference �
Important Disclaimer: Psilocybe mushrooms and other such psychedelic substances are Schedule I controlled substances under U. S. federal law. These substances are illegal in many states and have not been approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration( FDA) for the treatment of any medical or mental health conditions.
Content provided here does not imply endorsement. The information provided here should not be interpreted as medical or therapeutic advice. Individuals are strongly advised to consult with a licensed healthcare provider or mental health professional before using substances mentioned here or making treatment decisions. This content is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and is not designed to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or condition.
October 2025 29