As the U.S. election nears its conclusion, it doesn’t yet look like we’ll be able to say today whether Joe Biden or Donald Trump will take office (or remain in office). One result we did see last night, however, came from the state of Oregon. There, voters chose to legalize magic mushrooms—something that has never happened in any other state. A major victory, then, for the “psychedelic revolution.”
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Measure 109: Legalization of Psilocybin
Last night, Oregon passed the first measure of its kind to formally legalize access to hallucinogenic mushrooms—better known as magic mushrooms. Measure 109 specifically mandates that the state establish and regulate a program allowing adults in the state to consume psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms and magic truffles.
“What sets Measure 109 apart from decriminalization efforts is that it provides a legal pathway to psilocybin therapy. That is to say, rather than blocking penalties for possessing psychedelic products, it could establish a state-regulated program to actually use and obtain them. In fact, accessing psilocybin as an adult in Oregon would be about as easy as signing up for counseling,” according to Mother Jones.
Decriminalizing psychedelics, or legalizing them in certain settings, has become an increasingly popular idea since the publication of Michael Pollan’s article “The Trip Treatment” and his subsequent 2018 best-selling book, How to Change Your Mind. This comes amid a recent wave of research into the potential benefits of psychedelic therapy. “We need options. And this is a valid therapeutic option that could help thousands of people,” Tom Eckert—founder of the Oregon Psilocybin Society—told The Oregonian in September.
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Measure 110: Decriminalizing Hard Drugs
But it hasn’t stopped at legalizing magic mushrooms and magic truffles. The state goes even further than that in Measure 110. A 61% “yes” vote on this measure has made Oregon the first state to decriminalize hard drugs such as DMT as well. Measure 110 would completely change the way Oregon’s legal system treats those found with quantities of hard drugs for personal use.
“Today’s victory is a milestone in declaring that the time has come to stop criminalizing people for drug use,” says Kassandra Frederique, director of the Drug Policy Alliance, which spearheaded the hard drugs measure. “Measure 110 may well be the biggest blow to the war on drugs to date.”
Under Measure 110, a person caught with hard drugs would have the choice—instead of facing trial and a potential prison sentence—to pay a $100 fine or enroll in a treatment center. The centers would be funded with millions of dollars in tax revenue from the state’s legalized, regulated marijuana industry (where they were also the first to legalize it). “This is such a big step toward a health-based approach rather than criminal punishment, and we’re dedicating significant new resources to help Oregonians who need it,” said Janie Gullickson, co-lead sponsor of Measure 110.
What do you think: is it time for the Netherlands to adopt the same approach as the U.S. state of Oregon?
