Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps
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.
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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