Voters in Mass., Ore. weigh ‘magic mushroom’ ballot measures

[Jack]

ELECTION DAY IS ALMOST HERE …

AND VOTERS IN TWO STATES HAVE DECISIONS TO MAKE ABOUT SO-CALLED “MAGIC MUSHROOMS.”

IN MASSACHUSETTS … IF “QUESTION 4” ON THE BALLOT PASSES … IT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE 21 OR OLDER TO HAVE, GROW OR USE PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS.

IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A COMMISSION AND ADVISORY BOARD TO REGULATE THE LICENSING FOR IT AND A PLAN FOR TAXING SALES.

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

OPPONENTS SAY THESE SUBSTANCES CAN BE DANGEROUS TO CERTAIN PEOPLE INCLUDING THOSE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SAY THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN UNDER MEDICAL SUPERVISION. 

MASSACHUSETTS WOULD BE THE THIRD STATE TO LEGALIZE PSYCHEDELICS, FOLLOWING COLORADO AND OREGON.

BUT NOW OREGON IS WEIGHING THAT DECISION.

FOUR YEARS AFTER VOTERS THERE APPROVED THE REGULATED USE OF MUSHROOMS – AND MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER THE FIRST PEOPLE BEGAN USING THEM  – SIXTEEN CITIES ARE ASKING VOTERS TO BAN PSILOCYBIN BUSINESSES.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 LICENSED CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET MUSHROOMS. 

SOME OPTED OUT OF THE PROGRAM IN A LOCAL MEASURE IN 20-22.

ACCORDING JOHN HOPKINS RESEARCHERS, A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SUFFERING CANCER-RELATED ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION FOUND RELIEF FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS FROM A SINGLE LARGE DOSE OF PSILOCYBIN. 

FOR SAN I’M … JACK AYLMER. 

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