Psychedelic mushrooms are the next frontier in drug decriminalization and this time the movement is being led by cities.
Denver, Colorado became the first city to decriminalize psilocybin in May. Oakland soon followed. It took things one step further by also decriminalizing peyote and other entheogenic plants.
Berkeley may be next. On July 17, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee voted in favor of an ordinance prohibiting local funds from being used to prosecute possession or use of psilocybin and other hallucinogenic plants. The issue is now headed to the Public Health Committee.
Meanwhile, a town in Washington is considering a decriminalization ordinance of its own.
In addition to recreational use, there is growing interest in the possible therapeutic effects of psychedelic mushrooms and other hallucinogens. A robust community of activists deserve credit for successfully pressuring local governments to reconsider their stance on these substances.