Oregon became the first state in the nation to legalize psilocybin in therapeutic settings Tuesday. Measure 109 passed with 56% of the vote, as more than a million Oregonians said yes to the measure.
Here are five things to know about the groundbreaking new law.
It will be at least two years before psilocybin therapy is available.
The new law will create a framework for using mushrooms in a therapeutic setting.
The measure, from chief petitioners wife-and-husband Sheri and Thomas Eckert of Beaverton, will create a two-year period during which regulatory details will be worked out, including what qualifications are required of therapists overseeing its use.
Psychedelic mushrooms will not be distributed like cannabis or alcohol.
Psilocybin won’t be available to purchase and take home. Only license holders will be able to cultivate psilocybin or provide the therapy or own a psilocybin service center under the new law
And it does not allow people to take or grow psychedelic mushrooms in their homes, or leave a treatment facility while still under the influence of psilocybin.
The Oregon Health Authority will be responsible for the program, unlike cannabis, which is managed by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
According to the chief petitioners, therapy recipients will go through a pre-screening, a supervised therapy session and a post-use evaluation.
You won’t necessarily need to be suffering from mental health issues to use psilocybin,
The treatment isn’t only for Oregonians struggling with mental health problems. Anyone age 21 or older who passes a screening will be able to access the services for “personal development,” according to the Eckerts.
A soap company was a huge backer of this measure.
Dr. Bronner’s soap company donated more than $1 million directly to the yes campaign for Measure 109 and provided most of the money behind a political committee that gave another $1.5 million.
Psilocybin is still a Schedule I drug.
Federal law classifies psilocybin as a Schedule I drug, like LSD and marijuana, and the Drug Enforcement Agency cautions it may cause temporary physical or mental harm in some cases. Federal officials note that it is not addictive.
However, on Tuesday, Oregon passed a law decriminalizing possession of small amounts of drugs including heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, LSD, psilocybin, methadone and oxycodone.
Bryce Dole and Jamie Hale contributed to this story.
-- Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker