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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Denver votes to become first U.S. city to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms' [reuters.com]

Denver will become the first city in the United States to decriminalize magic mushrooms, based on final unofficial results on Wednesday of a ballot initiative about the hallucinogenic drug.

The initiative called for Colorado's capital to end the imposition of criminal penalties for individuals at least 21 years of age for using or possessing psilocybin, widely known as magic mushrooms.

The Denver Elections Divisions will certify results on May 16, but the final count on its website on Wednesday was 50.56 percent of voters in favor and 49.44 percent against.

If the initiative is approved, psilocybin would still remain illegal under both Colorado and federal law. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration classifies the drug as a Schedule 1 substance, meaning the agency has deemed that it has a high potential for abuse with no accepted medical application.

Also at NYT [nytimes.com]:

"It's surreal," said Travis Tyler Fluck, a field organizer for the campaign to pass the measure, suggesting that Denver had a sizable population of "psychedelic constituents." "People just don't see it as a threat," he added. "Compared to the 'sinister' LSD, magic mushrooms are tame."

Oof. 🚲 🍄

Previously: Denver, Colorado Will Vote on Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative on May 7 [soylentnews.org]

Related: Study Suggests Psilocybin "Resets" the Brains of Depressed People [soylentnews.org]
Shrooms Safest, Comparatively Speaking [soylentnews.org]

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