Martha J Hartney – Hartney Law

Martha Hartney is a Colorado-based private practice attorney whose work focuses on legal, ethical, and governance issues arising in the evolving psychedelic landscape. She was the first attorney to graduate from the California Institute of Integral Studies Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies and Research program, where she developed a multidisciplinary foundation spanning law, psychology, ethics, and cultural considerations related to psychedelic practice.

Martha has been involved in legal advocacy concerning the religious use of ayahuasca and other sacred plants, with a particular focus on balancing religious freedom with responsibility, safety, and accountability. She served as part of the legal team in Church of the Eagle and the Condor v. United States, a case that concluded with a settlement allowing a U.S. church to import and serve ayahuasca for sincere religious use—the first such outcome since 2009. Her role in this work reflects a collaborative, behind-the-scenes approach to advancing religious liberty within existing legal frameworks.

In her broader professional work, Martha emphasizes thoughtful standards of care, informed consent, and ethical best practices for individuals and organizations engaging with non-ordinary states of consciousness. She is particularly interested in the careful integration of modern trauma science with long-standing ceremonial and spiritual traditions, and in supporting structures that reduce harm while honoring cultural origins and religious integrity.
Martha serves on the Advisory Board of the Sacred Plant Alliance and is an advisor to the Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants at the Chacruna Institute, where she contributes legal perspective to issues of reciprocity, cultural respect, and responsible engagement. Within the legal community, she was the inaugural steward of the Religious Use Subcommittee of the Psychedelic Bar Association and currently serves on its Board of Directors.

Throughout her work, Martha is known for a measured and principled approach—supporting lawful religious and therapeutic uses of psychedelics while remaining attentive to questions of power, vulnerability, and governance. She values interdisciplinary dialogue and continues to learn from clinicians, scholars, Indigenous voices, and fellow practitioners as this field develops.

Socials:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram