Multiple cities in Oregon vote to ban ‘magic mushrooms’

Nov 22

Listen

Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

A growing number of cities in Oregon have banned the use of psychedelic mushrooms, despite the state becoming the first in the country to legalize therapeutic use of the drug. Four cities added new voter-approved bans for psilocybin, the compound found in such mushrooms, in the Nov. 5 election.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

A dozen other communities that approved two-year prohibitions in 2022 voted in this election to make those restrictions permanent.

Psilocybin is still accessible in over 30 licensed centers including in some of Oregon’s largest cities, like Portland, and a handful of small towns. Some rural counties also voted to stay in the program.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Supporters say psychedelics can help people struggling with anxiety, depression and PTSD. Critics say the substances can be dangerous to certain people including those with schizophrenia.

Psychedelic researchers think the recent decisions by voters may be a sign that a majority of people are favoring “law and order” when it comes to drug policies.

“Oregon, specifically, has been touted as an example of liberal drug policies gone wrong,” Josh Hardman, the founder of Psychedelics Alpha told The Associated Press.

In 2020, around 56% of Oregon voters approved a measure allowing therapeutic use of psilocybin at licensed facilities for those over 21. But the measure let other counties and cities vote to opt out, resulting in the differing regulations across the state.

Tags: 2024 Elections, Drugs, Mail-in voting, Oregon, Portland, Voting

[Jack Aylmer]

A GROWING NUMBER OF CITIES IN OREGON ARE BANNING THE USE OF PSYCHEDELIC MUSHROOMS … DESPITE THE STATE BECOMING THE FIRST IN THE COUNTRY TO LEGALIZE THERAPEUTIC USE OF THE DRUG.

FOUR CITIES ADDED NEW VOTER-APPROVED BANS FOR PSILOCYBIN … THE COMPOUND FOUND IN MAGIC MUSHROOMS … IN THE NOVEMBER FIFTH ELECTION.

A DOZEN OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT APPROVED TWO-YEAR PROHIBTIONS IN 2022 VOTED IN THIS ELECTION TO MAKE THOSE RESTRICTIONS PERMANENT.

PSILOCYBIN IS STILL ACCESSIBLE IN OVER 30 LICENSED CENTERS INCLUDING IN SOME OF OREGON’S LARGEST CITIES, LIKE PORTLAND – AND A HANDFUL OF SMALL TOWNS.

SOME RURAL COUNTIES ALSO VOTED TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM.

SUPPORTERS SAY PSYCHEDELICS CAN HELP PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND P-T-S-D.

CRITICS SAY THE SUBSTANCES CAN BE DANGEROUS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE INCLUDING THOSE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA.

PSYCHEDELIC RESEARCHERS THINK THE RECENT DECISIONS BY VOTERS MAY BE A SIGN THAT A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE FAVORING “LAW AND ORDER” WHEN IT COMES TO DRUG POLICIES…. WITH JOSH HARDMAN … THE FOUNDER OF PSYCHADELICS ALPHA TELLING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS QUOTE …

“OREGON, SPECIFICALLY, HAS BEEN TOUTED AS AN EXAMPLE OF LIBERAL DRUG POLICIES GONE WRONG.”

IN 2020, AROUND 56 PERCENT OF OREGON VOTERS APPROVED A MEASURE ALLOWING THERAPEUTIC USE OF PSILOCYBIN AT LICENSED FACILITIES FOR THOSE OVER 21.

BUT THE MEASURE LET OTHER COUNTIES AND CITIES VOTE TO OPT OUT, RESULTING IN THE DIFFERENT REGULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

FOR SAN – I’M JACK AYLMER.

FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.