Ayahuasca on Trial
History of Pharmacy and Pharmaceuticals January 1, 2022 Sara V. Press 1 citation
The patenting of the ayahuasca strain 'Da Vine' by Loren Miller in 1986 was later challenged by Indigenous peoples of Ecuador, who argued the plant was not novel due to its long traditional use. The US Patent and Trademark Office initially revoked the patent in 1999 after finding evidence of the strain in US botanical museums before Miller's application, but Miller's appeal reinstated the patent for its remaining life. This case illustrates how international patent law perpetuates colonial power dynamics by ignoring Indigenous knowledge and practices, legitimizing the appropriation of sacred plants.