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Efforts To Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms Beginning To Sprout Nationally
Denver and Oakland recently passed measures decriminalizing magic mushrooms, and it appears to be part of a larger, slow-moving movement to make psilocybin (the mushrooms' psychedelic ingredient) available for treatments for depression and other medicinal purposes, and, of course, recreational purposes.
- Oregon: The Pacific Northwest is considering a 2020 ballot measure to allow Oregonians to use "guided psilocybin services" for therapeutic purposes. The Psilocybin Service Initiative is the organization behind the measure, and it is working to get the 100,000 petition signatures needed to secure a place on the state's 2020 election ballot.
- California: After the Oakland measure passed, an organization called Decriminalize California is working on a statewide decriminalization measure for the 2020 election. (A similar measure failed to garner enough petition signatures last year.) According to the organization's strategy timeline, it is fundraising in advance of its fall campaign for petition signatures and promotion.
- Iowa: State Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican with a libertarian streak, introduced two magic mushroom-focused bills in February. One bill would remove psilocybin from Iowa's list of controlled substances, and the second would allow medical usage of the substance. Since their introduction, the bills have languished in Iowa's house.
Oakland's decriminalization covers hallucinogens derived from plants or fungi, including but not limited to psilocybin-containing mushrooms and mescaline-containing peyote.
See also: Oakland City Council looks to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms' after Denver vote
Oakland Second US City to Legalize Magic Mushrooms
Oakland Decriminalizes Hallucinogenic 'Magic Mushrooms' And Peyote
Previously: Denver, Colorado Will Vote on Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative on May 7
Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Narrowly Approved in Denver, Colorado
(Score: 5, Insightful) by NotSanguine on Sunday June 16 2019, @02:28AM (1 child)
All mind-altering substances sold commercially should be legalized, regulated and taxed.
There are a bunch of reasons for that:
1. Black markets invariably attract unethical and unscrupulous folks;
2. Unethical and unscrupulous folks will adulterate their product, use violence and otherwise make things more dangerous, in the pursuit of profit;
3. Attempting to control what a person *voluntarily* puts into his or her body (or carries within it for some period of time, for that matter) is an attack on personal liberty;
4. Enormous sums of taxpayer money could be saved by not jailing folks for exercising (or facilitating the exercise of) their personal liberties;
5. While such changes would bring issues of dependence and addiction to the fore, those with dependence/addiction issues are (and would continue to be) a very small fraction of those who use such substances;
6. A small fraction of the taxpayer money saved by not spending on "enforcement," interdiction and incarceration could provide comprehensive treatment for those with addiction/dependence issues;
7. Criminal convictions, whether for use/possession or sale of such substances negatively impact the earnings potential of those with such convictions. That negatively impacts both specific communities and the larger economy. Remove the restrictions that result in those convictions, and communities and the larger economy would have a better chance to grow and thrive.
I'm sure there are many more good reasons for full legalization of all mind-altering substances. Perhaps some thoughtful person will add to my list?
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 16 2019, @02:15PM
BUT THERE DRUUUUUGS!