True psychonauts have, of course, long known that a genuine psychedelic revolution is slowly on the horizon (or is even already underway). After cannabis was legalized in several U.S. states, the country now appears to be leading the way for us as well when it comes to numerous other psychedelics. Ann Arbor, a city in Michigan, voted unanimously this week to decriminalize a wide range of psychedelic substances, including psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline, and ayahuasca.
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Psychological and physical well-being
"The mayor and the city council hereby declare that it is the policy of the City of Ann Arbor that the investigation and arrest of individuals for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, using, or possessing entheogenic plants or plant substances listed on the Federal Schedule 1 list will be the lowest priority for law enforcement in the city of Ann Arbor,” states the resolution adopted on Monday. The resolution applies to“plants, fungi, and natural materials that can promote psychological and physical well-being.”
“We had a caller last night who said that using mushrooms changed his life. It was the only thing that helped him; very moving.”
A significant portion of the resolution is dedicated to researching the effects of certain psychedelic substances in treating disorders such as “substance abuse, addiction, recidivism, trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, chronic depression, end-of-life anxiety, grief, cluster headaches, and other debilitating conditions,” according to the policy. Currently, there is insufficient scientific evidence to make such claims and confirm these effects.
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‘Life-changing’
In an interview with an American news channel, city council member Jeff Hayner talks about his belief in the therapeutic effects of some of these psychedelics. “We had a caller last night who said that using mushrooms changed his life. It was the only thing that helped him; it was very moving.” Numerous studies are currently underway to demonstrate the potential of certain psychedelic substances, including magic mushrooms.
Zachary Ackerman, a city council member from Ann Arbor, pointed out during Monday night’s meeting that the future looks bright for psychedelic research. “This is a serious topic with potentially serious benefits,” Ackerman said. “To put this into perspective: Johns Hopkins, a leading medical research university, has just established a $17 million research center dedicated exclusively to investigating the benefits of these substances, because Johns Hopkins and their donors recognize the enormous potential of these substances.”
Read also: These are the effects of sativa cannabis
Decriminalize Nature
Decriminalize Nature Ann Arbor, the group that helped bring the resolution before the Ann Arbor City Council, also cites American liberty and personal freedom in its case for the decriminalization of psychedelic plants. “People and American citizens have an inalienable natural right to use plants of their choice,” the group explains on its website. Ann Arbor is following the example of other U.S. cities that have legalized psilocybin mushrooms, including Denver and Oakland and Santa Cruz in California.
Oregon Public Broadcasting also reports that Oregon residents will vote in November on an initiative to allow the use of psilocybin in the state. It would make Oregon the first state in America to legalize any use of the substance. Sometimes America really is quite a progressive country!
