Table of Contents
Introduction
When a voice that has stood for independent thought and psychoactive education for over four decades calls for help, it’s worth listening. That’s exactly the case with Nachtschatten Verlag, the iconic Swiss publishing house dedicated to psychoactive substances, ethnobotany, and alternative culture. In October 2025, Nachtschatten launched the crowdfunding campaign “Rettet den Nachtschatten!” (“Save Nachtschatten!”) — a last call to keep their work alive.
1. Who Is Nachtschatten Verlag?
Founded in 1984 by Roger Liggenstorfer in Solothurn, Switzerland, Nachtschatten Verlag has long been a pioneering voice in the field of psychoactive plants, drug policy, ethnobotany, and altered states of consciousness. It was one of the first publishers in Europe to provide scientifically grounded, culturally aware, and open-minded books on subjects often silenced by the mainstream. Their catalogue includes everything from cannabis and ayahuasca to lucid dreaming and psychonautics — all handled with a tone of respect, research, and cultural awareness.
2. Why the Crowdfunding Campaign?
In October 2025, Nachtschatten Verlag announced it was facing a severe financial crisis. They were unable to pay full salaries, royalties to authors were delayed, and essential new projects were stalled. Multiple factors contributed:
- A weak economic spring and poor results from key expos
- Increased storage and shipping costs
- A weakening euro against the Swiss franc
- Changes in the book market — including AI summaries replacing in-depth research
- Fewer independent bookstores and tighter digital market control
The campaign aims to raise CHF 25,000 for short-term relief and CHF 75,000+ to secure longer-term sustainability. Planned projects include:
- A new digital platform for psychoactive culture
- A YouTube format: “Lucys – All that moves your mind”
- New podcast and audio formats
- Digitizing their vast archival library
- Launching new books under fair author contracts
3. How’s the Campaign Going?
So far, the results have been promising. The initial CHF 25,000 target was met within days. By mid-October, over CHF 30,000 had been raised with the help of more than 200 backers. The campaign is hosted on the Swiss platform wemakeit.com and continues to attract attention internationally.
4. Why This Campaign Matters
This is about more than one publisher. It's about protecting cultural memory and independent knowledge. Here's why it matters:
- It preserves an independent voice on psychedelics and plant wisdom
- It supports transition into digital and global formats
- It keeps a rich cultural archive alive — decades of research, books, magazines, and interviews
- It empowers a conscious global community to stay informed and connected
5. How You Can Help
If you believe in what Nachtschatten stands for, here’s how to support the campaign:
- Donate — any amount makes a difference
- Share the campaign across your channels and networks
- Buy books or subscriptions — directly helps the publisher
- Offer your expertise (media, design, fundraising)
Conclusion
Nachtschatten Verlag is not just a publisher — it’s a cultural institution. Whether you’re a reader, psychonaut, scientist, or advocate for plant medicine, their survival matters. With your help, they can not only survive this crisis — but thrive in the decades to come.
Support here: wemakeit.com/projects/rettet-den-nachtschatten
About the Author

Michael, Founder & CEO of INHALE Vaporizers
Driven by a passion for clean, mindful vaporization, Michael leads INHALE in crafting elegant and sustainable tools like the Vapman and Lotus. With a deep focus on function, ritual, and natural wellness, INHALE helps people reconnect with the power of plants—one breath at a time.
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