The regulation of ayahuasca in Brazil evolved from prohibition in the mid-1980s to the 2010 CONAD Resolution, which established ethical rules and norms for its religious and ritual use. This Brazilian regulatory process serves as a starting point for examining emerging international regulatory themes as nations respond to the global spread of ayahuasca religions such as Santo Daime and União do Vegetal. The analysis draws on academic literature, primary legislative and judicial documents, and the positions of consulted specialists.
Recent changes in drug legislation in various countries have prompted an investigation into the potential of entheogens—psychoactive plants used as spiritual sacraments—as tools for fostering existential intelligence. Examples include Master Plants of the Americas such as ayahuasca, psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, and the Indo-Aryan soma of Eurasia, which have been revered across cultures as cognitive instruments that promote a richer cosmological understanding of the world. Gardner's (1999) revised theory of multiple intelligences and his formulation of an 'existential' intelligence provide a theoretical lens for considering the cognitive possibilities of entheogens and exploring potential pathways in education.