In 2020, Oregon may become the first state in the United States to legalize Psilocybin with the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act. Soon, Oregonians will be investing in magic mushroom grow kits and growing their own medicine, much like home cannabis cultivation.
Initiative Petition 34
Oregon is one step away from getting an initiative on 2020 ballot to legalize psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use, known as psychedelic therapy. Denver and Oakland decriminalized psilocybin this year, which was considered –and is – a revolutionary step in dismantling the legacy of the Drug War. But it still remained an illegal Schedule I substance. If Oregon votes in favor of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, it will be the state the first in the United States to legalize a Schedule I.
Initially, the Oregon Psilocybin Society, the organization responsible for the initiative, outlined an additional and even more ambitious proposal. It would have decriminalized psilocybin beyond medical use. This would have made Oregon also the first state to legalize a Schedule I drug beyond marijuana. That is no longer the case, which has sent some disgruntled ripples across the Psychedelic community. Perhaps this will encourage other organizations in other states to tackle reforming drug policy. Regardless, the Attorney General cleared the now officially titled, Initiative Petition 34, to gather signatures in order to secure a spot in the 2020 elections.
What Would Legalization Mean?
What does “therapeutic purposes” mean? It’s a vague term.
Essentially, the measure would allow anyone twenty-one years of age and older to take psilocybin under the supervision of a licensed facilitator in a designated setting. A “designated setting” however could refer to a medical facility like a hospital or clinic, or a retreat. Will that be regulated in some fashion? What about licensing: would facilitators go through an official training program? What would that look like? Who would lead it? Thus, the Initiative would be responsible for building that governing structure, if the voters pass the Initiative Petition 34: licensing, manufacturing, delivery and continue research into its potential assets.
And those who go to therapy are not necessarily suffering from mental health issues either. Something does not have to be “wrong with you” to seek out therapy, or something of the like. Taking care of oneself, generally, is advisable anyway if one is thinking about their health long-term. Generally, we start feeling a little sick and push ourselves until we get really sick to then take care of ourselves. Logically, that doesn’t make much sense. Thus, the mentality that we have as a culture, that we must have a “viable” reason to take care of ourselves is inherently destructive.
Our emotional, spiritual, mental, physical health are not separate entities. All of the parts that make up the whole of our being interact and inform one another. Taking care of your emotional health is taking care of your physical health.
In any case, therapy does not make you crazy. Going through a hard time doesn’t make you crazy either. And one doesn’t need to justify wanting to simply try magic mushrooms. And Initiative Petition 34 does not plan to place any “…restrictions on the type of health condition that qualifies an individual from such treatment.” If we were to do so, we would turn magic mushrooms into another Pharma “drug.” People partake in plant medicines or psychedelic substances for a host of reasons. And there is nothing “wrong” about taking them.
Initiative Petition 34 Needs Signatures
But Initiative Petition 34 isn’t on the ballot yet. Bureaucracy favors the bold and inexhaustible– the arduous process is not over. The campaign still has to collect over 110,000 voter signatures in order to qualify for the ballot. Meaning, it’s time to get those people signing. Get out your pens Oregon.
Buckle your seatbelts, 2020 is going to be quite a year. It appeared paradoxical that Trump was elected the same year that the recreational use of Marijuana became legal in California. Those two ideas don’t make sense together. Then, in the laws of Physics, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Not to place these two ideas in direct opposition to one another. It’s fascinating that magic mushrooms may become legal, in some capacity, in a country that could re-elect Trump. But if approval ratings tell us anything, then psilocybin stands a good chance and…it’s not looking good for the Don. Whereas psychedelics are entering popular culture, Trump may turn out to be the most poopular President in recent history, to quote Lucille O’Ball.
Here are all the ballot initiatives state-wide that are seeking a spot on the ballot in the 2020.
