Drug laws across the U.S. are constantly evolving. Cannabis is losing its stigma and now, certain psychedelics are regaining their place in holistic medicine. Thus far, several cities and states have legalized or decriminalized psychedelics for their therapeutic benefits.
Where are psychedelics legal in the US and what types are allowed? Where are psychedelic mushrooms legal? What are psychedelics?
Here, Elevate Holistics will cover everything you need to know about legal psychedelics in the US. What cities, counties, and states support patients using these psychoactive substances for their healing properties?
What Are Psychedelics?
First off, what are psychedelics? To understand psychedelics, you must understand the term “entheogen.” An entheogen is a psychoactive, hallucinogenic substance typically of plant origin used to heal.
Psilocybin, ayahuasca, mescaline, and peyote are all types of psychedelics. Psilocybin, otherwise known as shrooms or magic mushrooms, is one of the most common entheogenic psychedelics. Entheogenic plants and fungi have a low propensity for abuse.
Entheogenic psychedelics are considered sacred in many cultures and used for medicinal benefits and profound experiences. For thousands of years, indigenous tribes have used entheogenic psychedelics in religious and spiritual ceremonies for their healing properties. So what are the therapeutic benefits of psychedelics?
Psychedelics can:
- Benefit psychological and physical wellness
- Reestablish the human relationship with nature and the universe
- Help individuals work through trauma stored in the mind and body
- Alleviate symptoms of severe depression, anxiety, PSTD, OCD, and grief
- Act as a breakthrough catalyst for personal and spiritual growth
- Combat treatment-resistant drug and alcohol addiction
- Promote epiphanies and knowledge expansion
Legal Psychedelic States
Where are psychedelics legal in the US? Where are psychedelic mushrooms legal?
Aside from psilocybin in Oregon, all psychedelics in the US are technically illegal. However, many areas have decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi.
Decriminalization makes the use and possession of these drugs a low priority for law enforcement. The decriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi doesn’t apply to synthetic psychedelics such as LSD or MDMA.
Decriminalizing natural psychedelics lowers arrests for these drugs and reallocates law enforcement funds and time. Here are the decriminalized, and in some ways legal psychedelic states, cities, and counties.
Where Are Psychedelics Legal in California?
Four California cities have decriminalized entheogenic psychedelics. Where are psychedelic mushrooms legal in California?
Arcata
In October 2021, Arcata decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Oakland
In June 2019, Oakland City Council unanimously voted to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
San Francisco
In September 2022, San Francisco voted to decriminalize all entheogens for adults, referring to them as “plants, fungi, and natural materials that can inspire personal and spiritual well-being.”
Santa Cruz
In February 2020, the City Council of Santa Cruz voted to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Denver, CO
Under Ordinance 301 in May 2019, Denver became the first city to decriminalize the use and possession of psilocybin. In November of this year, Colorado will vote on a measure to legalize the use, possession, and cultivation of certain entheogens and open up treatment centers.
Where Are Psychedelics Legal in Massachusetts?
Four cities in Massachusetts have decriminalized entheogenic psychedelics. Where are psychedelic mushrooms legal in Massachusetts?
Cambridge
In February 2021, Cambridge City Council voted to decriminalize entheogens for adults. The measure calls on law enforcement to stop the prosecution of individuals for the use, possession, or cultivation of psychedelics if the intent to distribute is not present.
Easthampton
In October 2021, Easthampton became the fourth MA city to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Northampton
In March 2021, Northampton decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Somerville
In January 2021, Somerville decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults. Somerville was the first city in MA to make this move.
Where Are Psychedelics Legal in Michigan?
Three cities and one county within Michigan have decriminalized entheogenic psychedelics. Activists hope to decriminalize entheogens statewide to become one of the legal psychedelic states.
Washtenaw County
It all started with Ann Arbor, a city located within Washtenaw County. In 2020, Ann Arbor residents voted to decriminalize the use, possession, and personal cultivation of naturally occurring entheogens. Shortly after, the citywide law expanded to the rest of the county.
Detroit
In November 2021, Detroit decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Hazel Park
In March 2022, Hazel Park decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults.
Oregon
For now, Oregon is the only state in which psilocybin is legal for therapeutic use. Oregon legalized the supervised use of psilocybin through the ballot initiative Measure 109 in 2020. Oregon residents and visitors of the state 21 and older will likely have legal access to psychedelic mushrooms by the beginning of next year.
However, the process will be a lot different than buying cannabis. It’s proposed that businesses offering psilocybin in Oregon will need a special license to administer the drug. They will then supervise the experience, which could last about 8 hours. Sources say this experience will be costly at a minimum of about $1,500.
Where Are Psychedelics Legal In Washington?
Are psychedelic mushrooms legal in Washington state? Two cities in Washington have decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi, which includes psychedelic mushrooms.
Port Townsend
In June 2019, the Port Townsend City Council voted to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi for adults. This resolution made entheogens among the lowest enforcement priorities for the city.
Seattle
In October 2021, Seattle decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi for adults. The measure states that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of anyone engaging in entheogen-related activities should be among The City of Seattle’s lowest law enforcement priorities.
Washington, DC
In November 2020, Washington, DC decriminalized the use and possession of entheogenic plants and fungi for adults through Initiative 81.
Save The Trip, Medicate with MMJ
In conclusion, what are psychedelics? Natural psychedelics, or entheogens, are psychoactive, therapeutic drugs known to promote healing and overall wellness.
Are psychedelics legal in the US? Some states, cities, and counties have decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi. Where are psychedelic mushrooms legal? Psychedelic mushrooms are decriminalized anywhere entheogenic plants and fungi are decriminalized. In Oregon, they are legal.
Wishing you could live in one of the legal psychedelic states? If you’re interested in a milder entheogen with therapeutic properties, try healing your mind, body, and spirit with medical cannabis. The first step in healing with medical cannabis is getting your medical marijuana card.
Look no further – Elevate Holistics offers a simple and secure way to get medical marijuana certification. Our straightforward, fully online process virtually connects you with a certified doctor for MMJ card approval. All you have to do is pick a date and time that’s best for you.
