



Somerset West Healer Monica Cromhout was arrested in December 2014 charged with dispensing psilocybin, a mushroom extract, in a spiritual ritual she was conducting at her home.

While the extract is illegal - Cromhout had been conducting SOMA events – where the extract is consumed as part of a spiritual ceremony - at her home for some time.

For some time the 70 year old has been waging a fight to get the natural plants recognised for their healing properties. It continues the debate around the use of drugs for medical or spiritual purposes instead of just for recreational purposes.

She now faces a 15 year jail sentence.

Cromhout only spent 2 nights in jail before being released on bail. To help others in the predicament, she posted this article on her Facebook page: HOW TO COPE WITH ARREST AND TO SURVIVE YOUR HOLDING CELL.

Ahead of her hearing today, she spoke to Overnight Live's Linzi Boorhill...

Read an opinion piece in The Daily Maverick by Marianne Thamm here.

Watch Monica Cromhout talking about Sacred Mushrooms, filmed at the Linder Auditorium as part of the Khanyisa Psychoactive Plant Conference on Sat 20th October 2013...