From California to Vermont, a psychedelic surge in the United States

Possession of psychedelics, such as mushrooms with psilocybin, LSD or DMT could soon be authorized in several US states.

«Policy should be based on science and common sense, not fear and stigma,» explains Scott Wiener, California Democratic Assemblyman. «The war on drugs and mass incarceration are destructive and failed policies, and we must end them. Moreover, given the severity of our mental health crisis, we should not criminalize people who use drugs that have shown great promise in treating mental health problems.»

I introduced legislation (#SB519) to decriminalize psychedelic drugs (use & possession) in CA.

Let's embrace science & move past the failed war on drugs. Drug use is a health issue, not a criminal issue. And, psychedelics have tremendous health benefits. https://t.co/VtDrUJKdLM

- Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) February 18, 2021

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Scott Wiener filed a project which, in addition to record clearances for people with criminal records for possession or use, would decriminalize the possession and social sharing of psychedelics (MDMA, ketamine, mescaline, ibogaine...) and create a task force to study potential future regulatory systems for psychedelics. The aim is to issue recommendations on the issue to legislators by January 1, 2024.

For its part, the Decriminalize California, recently announced the launch of an initiative to legalize the consumption and retail sale of psilocybin by 2022.

Last Friday, legislators in Massachusetts presented a proposal to decriminalize all accompanied drugs. a proposal the creation of a working group to study plant- and mushroom-based psychedelic substances, with the ultimate aim of legalizing and regulating these substances.

Between now and June 2022, the 21-strong task force would study the effects of herbal and mushroom-based psychedelic substances and make recommendations on how to legalize the substances «in a way that maximizes equitable access and sustainable manufacturing of these plants».

Missouri residents with debilitating, life-threatening or terminal illnesses, meanwhile, could have legal access to a range of psychedelic drugs under new legislation.

A bill of law introduced last week by Republican Michael Davis would allow seriously ill people to use substances such as MDMA, psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, DMT, mescaline and ibogaine with a doctor's recommendation after exhausting all other approved treatment options. It would also eliminate statewide penalties for simple drug possession, reclassifying low-level offenses as misdemeanors.

Missouri State Representative Michael Davis Files Psychedelic "Right to Try" Access Billhttps://t.co/gjpAEz49s8 #moleg #mogov@tomangell @kylejaeger @MAPS pic.twitter.com/cMeRvIi7uD

- Crossing Paths PAC (@DrugReformMO) February 19, 2021

In Vermont, legislators plan to introduce at least two bills to decriminalize drug possession, with one expected early next week.

Representative Brian Cina declared that its legislation, which it plans to introduce on Tuesday, would remove sanctions against a range of herbal and mushroom-based psychedelic substances, including psilocybin, mescaline and ibogaine and DMT.

«Humans have had a close relationship with plants and mushrooms that goes back to the very beginning of humanity,» said Cina in an interview. «But the legacy of colonization has left us with the criminalization of these medicinal, spiritual, religious and entheogenic medicines.»

Another upcoming bill in Vermont would decriminalize small amounts of all drugs, although the details of this legislation have not yet been made public.

«We're still figuring out the model, but we're looking at the work that took place in Oregon as a potential model,» said Rep. Selene Colburn, referring to to the decriminalization of drugs which the state's voters approved in November.