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, ² and claims its soapmaking factory created the first commercial liquid castile soap at some point between the 1880s and 1890s. ³ The American branch of the business was founded in 1948 under the leadership of Emanual Bronner. ³

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. ⁴

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. ⁵

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps contributes to New Approach PAC, ⁶ a political action committee funded by the cannabis industry and psilocybin advocates. ⁷ The Daily Beast reported that the company made $6.685 million in total contributions to New Approach PAC in the 2020 elections. ⁸

Leadership

Michael Bronner the president of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps and grandson of company founder Emanual Bronner. ⁹ 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. ⁸

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). ¹⁰

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. “Dr. Bronner’s Story” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://www.drbronner.com/blogs/ourselves/the-dr-bronners-story
4. “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps-Recipients” OpenSecrets. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/dr-bronner-s-magic-soaps/recipients?toprecipscycle=2022&id=D000042641&candscycle=2008
5. “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
6. 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
7. 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/
8. 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
9. “Michael Bronner” Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps. https://info.drbronner.com/all-one-blog/author/mbronner/
10. “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