The Up-to-date News on Legalized Mushrooms & Psychedelics in the US
The topic of drug legalization is a very polarizing conversation to this day. Many people believe that drugs, in general, are evil that must be kept away from communities. Drugs can destroy lives. Therefore, it must be kept away from people before it corrupts them.
On the other hand, others believe that legalizing drugs can actually bring about more good than bad. By legalizing drugs, you can help get rid of the illegal drug trade. Instead of this, a legal and more regulated production process of these substances can take place. By regulating and monitoring production, keeping track of what drugs go around in the community is easier.
Aside from keeping track of these drugs, you can also keep track of their usage. Through decriminalization, people become less afraid of hiding their drug consumption. This can help remove a stigma attached to its use and help make people less afraid to come forward.
This is especially important from a public health standpoint because people who need healthcare for their drug use can finally get it. Whereas drug use is a criminal concern when it’s illegal, it becomes a public health focus should it become legalized, which is what it is.
These are just some of the many debates people have when it comes to legalizing drugs. There are indeed benefits to legalizing drugs. However, while it might be scary, it could still do more harm than good if drugs are legal. Aside from helping with drug addiction and preventing any illnesses that illegal drug use could bring about, it can help utilize some drugs to benefit health and wellness. This could then bring about better ways of treating diseases, further improving healthcare.
Psilocybin is one perfect example of a substance that can benefit from this legalization.
Is Legalization the Same as Decriminalization?
Before going on, you might be wondering if legalization and decriminalization are the same things. Unfortunately, those are two different things. When a drug is legalized, all legal repercussions merited by drug use or possession are removed. When a prescription is decriminalized, possession and its use are still illegal. But instead of getting a criminal offense if you are caught with drugs or using drugs, you only get a civil one. At the least, you will not get a criminal record.
Does Decriminalization of Drugs Work?
The decriminalization of drugs is something that some countries around the world have actually done. Portugal has done so. By decriminalizing drugs, you shift the focus of drug use from a criminal concern to a public health concern.
By removing that criminal stigma associated with drug use, people become less scared to come forward about their service. By providing a secure environment for them, free of judgment, they can have a safer environment for their drug use. In addition, you can watch over them and treat any drug-related illnesses and sicknesses that usually come with their drug use.
If these people want help, it becomes easier for them to have access to it. Punishing these people for a problem they have doesn’t make sense because they won’t get the help that way. By providing a better support system and community that accepts them, you help them out more.
Despite drugs still being illegal in decriminalization, their benefits would be essentially the same as legalizing all drugs.
On Legalized Mushrooms
The psychoactive component in magic mushrooms is called psilocybin. It’s currently a schedule 1 controlled substance. These drugs now have no accepted use in medicine because of their high potential for abuse. In addition, schedule 1 substances are illegal, which means possession or usage of these is a criminal offense.
While this is so, science does recognize that there are benefits to using psilocybin, especially in the medical field. For example, psilocybin can be used as an alternative treatment for mental illnesses, such as depression. This substance can also be used to help in palliative care, helping improve the quality of life of terminal patients. Psilocybin is still being studied today as science sees its potential to help with health and wellness.
Given that, people are working towards trying to make this a legal psychedelic. If not, decriminalizing drugs such as these would be an excellent first step. But, unfortunately, not every state has the same opinion, which means having legalized psychedelics all over the United States is still far from happening.
While the US works on the legalization & decriminalization of mushrooms, some states have taken the initiative to do so.
The Drug Policy Alliance Conference
The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is a non-profit organization that seeks to change the United States’ policies regarding drugs. They aim to change the attitudes people have towards drug use. In turn, this change in mentality could hopefully change the United States’ current laws towards drugs.
They believe that drug use is normal and, for as long as it is regulated and backed by science, should be looked at with compassion and understanding.
With all of this in mind, the Drug Policy Alliance is pushing to legalize all drugs. The reason is that they believe that people using drugs is a reality we should face. Each person has their reasons for using these substances, and understanding why they use drugs can help them a lot. It not only removes the stigma directed at them, but it paves the way for a safer environment for them.
By removing the stigma and the judgment connected to drug use, drug users feel safer about opening up about their habit. This paves the way for applying health practices that can encourage safe drug use. In addition, it gives a chance for users to seek medical attention when it comes to their drug use.
The issue of drug use then comes under the light of public health, which can further promote safer drug practices. Public health, after all, is a right due to everyone. This is why drug users also need to be included, as drug use is a public health problem in the first place.
Aside from this, the Drug Policy Alliance recognizes that some drugs have therapeutic uses and potential benefits for health and wellness. That is why they are pushing towards legalizing these drugs to help capitalize on their potential to help with diseases. The legalization of mushrooms, for example, could help make it easier to treat mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Studies have shown the possible benefit that mushrooms have for these illnesses, encouraging authorities to consider the good these substances can do.
In line with this, organizations such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies work with the DPA to legalize psychedelics. Hopefully, in the coming years, laws will change to decriminalize drugs like these to help make it easier to treat illnesses that can benefit from psychedelic treatments.
Psychedelic Mushrooms in San Diego
In San Diego, the laws regarding drugs follow the rules of the state of California. So far, California has no new regulations regarding the legality of psychedelic mushrooms. This means that they are still considered a controlled substance.
According to California law, having possession of a drug such as psilocybin is considered a misdemeanor offense. This means that you will be criminally charged with possession. As a result, there is a chance that you will be convicted and imprisoned, or you could also be made to pay a fine.
Either way, having and using psychedelic mushrooms in San Diego isn’t legal. So, it would be best that you avoid doing so until the laws change.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in California?
So far, the only drug that is legal in California is marijuana. It’s legal for both medical and recreational use, but only in specific quantities. Any quantities exceeding 28.5 grams of marijuana or 8 ounces of marijuana concentrate could lead you to be charged with a drug-related offense.
As for mushrooms, these are still illegal. But, that may change soon as mushroom legalization in California may become a reality. At the moment, a proposed law is being pushed towards California mushroom legalization and other psychedelics. The basis for this push is the fact that people see the therapeutic potential of these substances.
While Californians wait on California Legalizing mushrooms, some cities already have decriminalized mushrooms. So while it isn’t much, it’s still a step closer to legalization.
Magic Mushrooms in Oregon
Are mushrooms legal in Oregon? Yes. As of November 3, 2020, a voter initiative voted “Yes” to give the state health authority the power to create a program that supports psilocybin use. Specifically, Oregon mushroom laws have allowed for the therapeutic use of mushrooms to help treat illnesses.
Aside from the legalization of mushrooms, the same initiative also voted to decriminalize them as well. So while Oregon legalizing mushrooms was only to help treat mental health illnesses, it’s still one step closer to getting mushrooms legalized in its entirety.
Psychedelic Mushrooms in Illinois
Psychedelic mushrooms in Illinois are still considered illegal. The Illinois administrative code considers psychedelic mushrooms a schedule 1 substance, making it illegal to possess. Unfortunately, possession of mushrooms in Illinois merits very harsh consequences. For example, control of up to 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms is punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison. Anything exceeding that amount would merit 4 to 15 years in prison.
At present, it doesn’t look like Illinois mushroom laws are going to change soon. So while these do have therapeutic benefits, having them accessible for this specific use may not be possible any time soon.
Decriminalization of Mushrooms in Denver
When you think of Denver, the first thing that might come into mind would be that cannabis is legal. This is indeed true. Unfortunately, cannabis is the only legalized drug in Denver so far. As for Denver psychedelics, these are only decriminalized. So, using and possessing mushrooms is still illegal. While they can still be used in experimental treatments, mushrooms have yet to have an approved medical usage.
While legalizing mushrooms in Denver has a long way to go, decriminalization takes it one step closer. Despite this, research on mushrooms will continue, and people will still do their best to lobby for Denver mushroom legalization. Until then, it’ll have to wait.
Oakland Magic Mushrooms Legalities
Are mushrooms legal in Oakland? No. But mushrooms are decriminalized in Oakland. As a matter of fact, Oakland is the first city in California to do such a thing. This means that while it is still not legal, police cannot pose criminal charges on you for using these drugs.
While buying mushrooms in Oakland is not yet possible, having these substances recognized for their therapeutic potential is still good. Of course, waiting for mushrooms to become legal in Oakland will take time, but this is good progress nonetheless.
Conclusion
The effort to legalize psychedelics throughout the United States still has a long way to go, especially since many people see these drugs as totally evil. But, with the progress that studies are bringing about, there is hope in changing peoples’ minds.
The use of psychedelics for depression, for example, is proving to be more effective than current treatment modalities. Likewise, psychedelics for depression and anxiety demonstrate suitable therapies for people, especially when combined with current treatments.
There is so much to do before mushroom legalization, let alone mushroom decriminalization, is achieved. But with all the information science and research are giving us, there is hope. It is possible to find legalized mushrooms and legal psychedelics as something normal in our society.
But until that happens, people will have to do their part to fight for it. It might not be easy, but if these things can help people, it’s definitely worth fighting for.