Oakland council may board magic bus by decriminalizing natural psychedelics
The move comes amid a wave of decriminalization efforts nationwide that some advocates are calling a psychedelic “renaissance”
Monday, May 27, 2019
Oakland could become the second city in the country to decriminalize certain natural psychedelics — including “magic mushrooms” — if elected leaders approve a resolution that would instruct law enforcement to stop investigating and prosecuting people using the drugs. The resolution is scheduled for its first public hearing before the City Council’s public safety committee and could go before the full council as early as June 4. It applies only to psychedelics that come from plants or fungi, not synthetic drugs like LSD or MDMA, also known as ecstasy. Councilman Noel Gallo, who introduced the resolution, said he hopes that the decriminalization of natural psychedelics could help people with mental health issues. (See also: The movement to make shrooms legal is gaining momentum)
