Decriminalizing Magic Mushrooms – What Can We Learn from This? [OPINION]

In the United States, the West Coast has earned a reputation as one of the most politically progressive regions. However, an advocate for change must also tip their hat towards Colorado, which is quickly becoming the Amsterdam of the West. In 2005, Denver became the first major city to decriminalize marijuana. Seven years later, Colorado is one of the first states to fully legalize recreational marijuana and reap the benefits of the industry’s tax revenue.

On Wednesday, May 8, Denver further solidified its status as a trailblazer in the American effort towards drug policy reform by decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms. While this effort, legally known as Initiative 301, is not nearly as impactful as the legalization of marijuana, it is symbolic for the much-needed shift in attitude about “hard drugs.” It sets an example for neighboring states to embrace drug research and education, and base their drug policies on such research. Although critics of Initiative 301 argue that psychedelic mushroom usage is not common and therefore not important to protect, they fail to recognize that decriminalizing any substance is a step towards harm reduction amongst drug users.

According to the Denver Post, Initiative 301 was in response to recent breakthroughs in psychedelic mushroom research regarding their potential health benefits. The FDA believes that psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, can not only treat depression and PTSD, but help cancer patients suffering from end-of-life distress. The US National Library of Medicine has also claimed that psilocybin may be the only cure to cluster headaches, a rare condition that has long been overlooked. Of course, none of these revelations can leave their trial phases and enter the clinical world until the possession of psilocybin is decriminalized or legalized for medicinal purposes.

Much of this research has only came into fruition in the last five years. Likewise, Initiative 301 symbolizes the long fight by psychedelic researchers to educate the public on these substances. Following the political scare of LSD during the 1960s, pioneers in psychedelic research such Terence McKenna were shunned and rejected by their own academic communities. Groups such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) had struggled for decades to find proper funding. Decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms not only recognizes these scholarly efforts, but combats the stigmas that prevented this research in the first place.

More importantly, under the pretenses of decriminalization, this research can be used to educate the public. Because drugs are considered taboo, there are often few resources or forums for users to ensure they are being safe. This is one of the many setbacks derived from Regan’s “just say no” campaign. For example, MAPS Director of Policy and Advocacy Natalie Ginsberg says that Initiative 301 may open the door conversations about MDMA. Although MDMA is a very different substance than psilocybin, both are being tested by the FDA as a PTSD treatment. In an article with RollingStone, Ginsberg says “MDMA more urgently needs to be decriminalized and regulated than psilocybin because it’s much more popular and runs a higher risk of being impure.”

In a way, psychedelic mushrooms have had their clinical trial phase way before the FDA’s approval – being used in shamanic rituals for thousands of years by tribes all over the world. Therefore, the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms could cause us to learn more about their respective ethno-botany. In fact, this might allow Western society to explore the rich history of other Schedule I plant-based medicines, such as ayahuasca, peyote, and ibogaine.

Of course, it is only fair to mention that the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms is not a substantial victory against the war on drugs. The privatized prison system capitalizing on drug charges could care less about psychedelic mushrooms. According to the Denver District Attorney Office, out of the 9,267 drug cases from 2016-2018, only 11 involved psilocybin. However, protecting one’s right to explore their own consciousness is still a matter of individual freedom, and Initiative 301 should be regarded as step forward for human rights. We must not forget that it was only 50 years ago that the Native American Church of Peyote was denied their freedom of religion due to the scheduling of the psychedelic. Psychoactive plants with a long history of human usage, such as peyote and psilocybin mushrooms, are often associated with concepts of spirituality and truth-seeking. With that being said, it is important to make sure that citizens have this option to explore their own spirituality.

Moving forward, decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms ultimately means one of two things: the eventual administrating of psilocybin in a clinical setting and prescription context, or the eventual legalization of recreational psychedelic mushroom use. While both may have their place in society, it is clear that the psychedelic community is most interested in the medicinal benefits of these substances. If nothing else, Initiative 301 is an ordinance rooted in the benefit of those afflicted by depression and trauma.