For-profit

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps

Website:

www.drbronner.com/

Status:

For-Profit Business

Formation:

1948

President:

Michael Bronner

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Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps is a personal hygiene business that endorses left-of-center spirituality, social and economic change, and the legalization of cannabis, magic mushrooms, and other psychedelic plants and fungi. 1 Persons associated with the company make political contributions to Democratic Party politicians and Democratic Party-aligned political action committees (PACs), in addition to committees supporting the legalization of certain drugs.

Background

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps is a privately held business that traces its roots to the Heilbronner German-Jewish soapmaking family in Laupheim, Germany. 2 The company began operating in 1858, 3 and claims its soapmaking factory created the first commercial liquid castile soap at some point between the 1880s and 1890s. 4 The American branch of the business was founded in 1948 under the leadership of Emanual Bronner. 5

Political Contributions

Persons associated with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps makes both direct political contributions to the campaigns of Democratic Party politicians and contributions to Democratic Party-aligned PACs. 6

In 2022, people reporting Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps as their employer contributed to the campaigns of Congressman Mike Levin (D-CA) ($6,150), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) ($5,300), Congressman Ron Wyden ($2,500), and the Committee for a Livable Future PAC ($5,000). Between 2019 and 2020, the Committee for a Livable Future PAC made $227,000 in political contributions to Democratic Party political candidates. 7

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps contributes to New Approach PAC, 8 a political action committee funded by the cannabis industry and psilocybin advocates. 9 The Daily Beast reported that the company made $6.685 million in total contributions to New Approach PAC in the 2020 elections. 10

Leadership

Michael Bronner the president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and grandson of company founder Emanual Bronner. 11 Bronner has stated that he intends to use the windfall profits his business received during the COVID-19 pandemic from higher demand for soap to push for legislation that will decriminalize the use of marijuana and psychedelic plants. 12

In 2020, Michael Bronner contributed to the Blumenauer Century Fund PAC ($5,000), the Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) campaign ($5,000), the Committee for a Livable Future PAC ($500), and the ActBlue PAC ($500). 13

References

  1. “Dr. Bronner’s – All-One Report.” Dr. Bronner’s All-One! Accessed December 12, 2022. https://www.allone.report/2022.
  2. [1] “Dr. Bronner’s Story” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/ourselves/the-dr-bronners-story
  3. [1] “Dr. Bronner’s Story” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/ourselves/the-dr-bronners-story
  4. “Dr. Bronner’s Story” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/ourselves/the-dr-bronners-story
  5. “Dr. Bronner’s Story” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/ourselves/the-dr-bronners-story
  6. “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps-Recipients” OpenSecrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/dr-bronner-s-magic-soaps/recipients?toprecipscycle=2022&id=D000042641&candscycle=2008
  7. “Committee for a Livable Future PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates” OpenSecrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/committee-for-a-livable-future/C00323352/candidate-recipients/2020
  8. Goodland, Marianne. “Who’s behind Colorado’s magic mushrooms campaign?” Colorado Politics. August 29, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.coloradopolitics.com/elections/whos-behind-colorados-magic-mushrooms-campaign/article_0945947a-27be-11ed-97bd-6fe00bbc74a4.html
  9. Giorno, Taylor. “Marijuana industry and advocates poured over $9.8 million to support cannabis legalization ballot measures in four states” OpenSecrets. October 12, 2022. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2022/10/marijuana-industry-and-advocates-poured-over-9-8-million-to-support-cannabis-legalization-ballot-measures-in-four-states/
  10. Roberts, Chris. “How COVID-19 Is Helping Bankroll Magic Mushroom Legalization” Daily Beast. November 22, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.thedailybeast.com/covid-19-and-david-and-dr-bronner-soaps-are-helping-bankroll-magic-mushroom-legalization
  11. “Michael Bronner” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://info.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/author/mbronner/
  12. Roberts, Chris. “How COVID-19 Is Helping Bankroll Magic Mushroom Legalization” Daily Beast. November 22, 2020. Accessed October 30, 2022. https://www.thedailybeast.com/covid-19-and-david-and-dr-bronner-soaps-are-helping-bankroll-magic-mushroom-legalization
  13. “Michael Bronner – 2020 Individual Contributions” Federal Election Commission. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=Michael+Bronner&contributor_zip=92010&min_date=01%2F01%2F2020&max_date=12%2F31%2F2020
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