Oregon First State To Decriminalize Heroin, Meth, Cocaine, LSD, Meth And Legalize Magic Mushrooms

Who What Why

Residents of Oregon state have recently woken up to the news that their state has delivered what many are calling a ‘historic verdict’ which has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of “hard” drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Meanwhile, it also approves the all-out legalization of psilocybin mushrooms.

Measure 110 is the Drug Decriminalization and Addiction Treatment Initiative which reclassifies the low-level possession of illegal substances from a misdemeanor to a non-criminal violation, which will be punishable by either a $100 fine or a health assessment. The “hard” drugs included are cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and methadone.

The measure, which received 59 percent of voters that were for it versus 41 percent against it, is considered historic considering it’s the first of its kind within the entire United States. The law has been pushed by the criminal justice reform advocates who have been clamoring for this change for years. And finally, by February 1, the state will stop jailing people for petty possession.


For many that have been in the “war on drugs,” decriminalizing the small-scale possession of drugs will have a positive effect on the widely affected poorer communities and communities of color as well as those that have been subject to ‘disproportionate over-policing and mass incarceration.’

While drug trafficking will remain a felony offense, substantial possession of drugs will be reduced to a felony. The state will also use $100 million in tax revenue from cannabis distilleries and sales to expand rehabilitation services. 24-hour Addiction Recovery Centers will also be opened, while the federal authorities will have the ability to ‘aggressively enforce drug laws in the state.’

Long-time advocates have hailed the passing of this law as incredibly important in order to help a number of people ‘break out of the cycle of arrest, incarceration, and addiction.’

Drug counselor for Portland’s nonprofit organization called Outside In, Haven Wheelock, explains, “It’s going to be huge. It’s going to allow people to get the services they need without fear of arrest. It’s going to change how people who don’t use drugs think about drug use. It’s going to allow us to move into a health-based system and hopefully be a model for other places. We have an opportunity to show the rest of the country this is how it should be.”

Voters in Oregon also made history when they approved Measure 109 , which is the Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative. This will allow the legalization of psilocybin or “magic mushrooms” as they are better known.

This will make the state the very first to legalize the use of a psychedelic fungus in controlled doses. Of course the use will need to be directed by licensed therapists and clinicians. Although there other cities that have also decriminalized this substance, Oregon is the only state that will ‘establish a regulatory framework that allows for supervised statewide use.’

Collective Evolution

This particular measure allows the Oregon Health Authority the mandate ‘to set up all licensing, training, certification, and ongoing education requirements for psilocybin service centers and facilitators during a mandated two-year development process.’ This would mean that only those holding licenses would be allowed to ‘provide psilocybin therapy, cultivate psilocybin, or own a psilocybin service center.’

 

Sheri and Thomas Eckerton, which is this measure’s chief petitioner couple, are two counselors that have been pushing for the legalization of psilocybin for years. A statement was also released giving thanks to those 164,000 residents of Oregon state who positively voted for the petition. Yes on 109 tweeted, “We are incredibly grateful for the support of each and every voter who helped us make history by creating the first legal psilocybin therapy program in the country.”

The statement continued, “Healthcare professionals, veterans, mothers, people struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction and end of life distress, community organizations, and so many others answered to call for a new option to help so many who are suffering.”


Advocates for the use of psilocybin share that the drug has ‘great promise’ for different ranges of psychotherapeutic settings. Most people believe that this substance can only be used as an intoxicating and hallucination-induced party drug due to its wide use back in the 60s when they were popularly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” but because of this new measure, the idea and the stigma that comes along with it will be greatly changed in the near future.

 

What are your thoughts? Please comment below and share this news!

True Activist / Report a typo

Popular on True Activist