The last few years have seen a surge of support for psilocybin legalization in many states across the US. From Colorado to California, and Michigan to Oregon, several states are taking initiatives to decriminalize the drug.
Colorado took the lead in 2020 when it became the first state to decriminalize “magic mushrooms.” This was followed by similar measures enacted in Washington DC, Oakland, and Santa Cruz. These areas removed criminal penalties for possession or cultivation of small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms.
In November 2020, Oregon made history as voters approved Measure 109 which authorized regulated production and sale of therapeutic psilocybin products at licensed facilities. The measure passed with 56% of votes cast in favor of implementing regulations for administering psilocybin-assisted therapy under medical supervision.
Meanwhile, Michigan has become the first state to legalize psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic purposes. The law allows individuals with certain debilitating mental or physical conditions access to psilocybin-assisted therapy options—under qualified professionals’ guidance—to address their ailments.
The latest news on efforts to fully legalize psilocybin is encouraging. Several other states such as Arizona and New Jersey are currently considering similar legislation that would allow supervised usage of psilocybin through licensed mental health professionals while completely removing criminal penalties associated with its possession and use.
Looking ahead, there appears to be significant potential for more widespread adoption of laws regulating use and sale of psychedelics like psilocybin across the United States. With more people proving its potential efficacy as a psychiatric treatment option, we may soon witness more states following suit towards legalizing and/or decriminalizing this substance.