Michael Davis
On May 7, 2019, Denver, Colorado, became the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin or magic mushrooms for adults 21 and older. The vote was extremely close, with a margin of less than 2,000 votes, and the initiative passed with 50.56% in favor. This move puts Denver at the center of the national conversation around drug policy and progressive public discourse, with supporters touting the potential medical benefits of psilocybin for mental health issues. However, critics argue that Denver is becoming the illicit drug capital of the world. While the initiative doesn't fully legalize psilocybin, it directs law enforcement to make its use and possession a low priority.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 7th May 2019 |
| City | Denver |
| State | Colorado |
| Type of measure | Ballot measure |
| Name of measure | Initiative 301 |
| Type of drug | Psychedelic mushrooms |
| Drug name | Psilocybin |
| Type of vote | Referendum |
| Voter turnout | 89,320 in favour, 87,341 against |
| Margin | 50.56% yes, 49.44% no |
| Majority | Less than 2,000 votes |
| Previous related measures | Marijuana decriminalization in 2005 and 2007 |
| Related progressive measures | Colorado's legalization of marijuana in 2012 |
| National context | Psilocybin classified as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use |
| Future outlook | Proposition 122 passed in Colorado in 2022, legalizing psilocybin |
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What You'll Learn
Denver is the first US city to decriminalise psilocybin
Denver has become the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin, or "magic mushrooms", following a historic vote in May 2019. The ballot measure, known as Initiative 301, sought to decriminalize the personal use, possession, and growth of psilocybin mushrooms for adults 21 and older in Denver.
The vote was extremely close, with the initiative passing by a margin of less than 2,000 votes, or 50.56% in favor to 49.44% against. This result was unexpected, as early returns showed the initiative trailing with only 45.43% of the vote. However, as the night wore on, the initiative gained traction, and by 1 a.m. the following day, it had inched closer to victory with 48.33% of the vote.
The initiative does not fully legalize psilocybin or permit its sale by cannabis businesses. Instead, it directs law enforcement to make the enforcement of laws against psilocybin a low priority and prohibits city attorneys from prosecuting cases involving the personal use and possession of psilocybin.
The vote is significant as it recalls similar marijuana decriminalization measures passed in the city over a decade ago. In 2005, Denver voters approved the decriminalization of marijuana possession, and in 2012, Colorado became the first state in America to legalize recreational marijuana use. Proponents of the psilocybin initiative hope that it will spark a broader conversation around the potential benefits of psilocybin and reduce unfair drug convictions in the city.
In November 2022, Colorado took another step towards the legalization of psilocybin mushrooms with the passage of Proposition 122, which allows for the creation of state-regulated "healing centers" where people can consume psilocybin in a supervised setting.
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The vote was close, with 50.56% in favour
On May 7, 2019, Denver, Colorado, voted to decriminalize psilocybin or magic mushrooms for adults 21 and older. The vote was close, with 50.56% in favour. The initiative, known as I-301 or Initiative 301, aimed to decriminalize the consumption, possession, and growth of psychedelic mushrooms.
The vote was a historic moment, with Denver becoming the first city in the United States to pass such a measure. The initiative had a narrow margin of victory, with only 89,320 votes in favour and 87,341 against—a difference of just 1,979 votes.
Supporters of the initiative argued that it would help reduce unfair drug convictions and start a national conversation about the potential medical benefits of psilocybin. Indeed, some residents of Denver already used mushrooms for medical reasons and looked forward to the drug's decriminalization. Kevin Matthews, the manager of the campaign that promoted the ballot initiative, affirmed that the victory was about more than just changing local laws. He stated, "Our victory here is a clear signal to the rest of the country that we're ready for a broader conversation around psilocybin and its potential benefits."
However, not everyone supported the initiative. Jeff Hunt, Vice President of Public Policy at Colorado Christian University and Director of the Centennial Institute, expressed concern that Denver was becoming the "illicit drug capital of the world." He also predicted that the decriminalization of magic mushrooms would eventually lead to their commercialization, following a similar path as marijuana. Despite these concerns, the initiative passed, and Denver once again found itself at the center of the national drug policy debate.
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The measure allows use and possession by over-21s
In 2019, Denver became the first city in the United States to decriminalize the use, possession, and growth of psilocybin or magic mushrooms for adults 21 and older. The measure, known as Initiative 301, passed by a narrow margin of less than 2,000 votes, with 50.56% of voters approving the initiative.
The initiative directs law enforcement to make the possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms a low priority, but it does not fully legalize or permit the sale of psilocybin. While the measure allows adults 21 and older to possess and use mushrooms, it is still considered a Schedule 1 illegal drug under federal law, and possession and sales remain illegal.
The vote to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in Denver is symbolic and reflects a broader shift in public opinion and policy regarding drug decriminalization and legalization. It follows similar marijuana decriminalization measures passed in the city and state in previous years, and supporters of the initiative highlighted the potential medical benefits of psilocybin in treating mental health issues.
While some celebrated the measure as a step towards reducing unfair drug convictions and starting a national conversation about psilocybin, others raised concerns about the normalization of drug use and the potential for commercialization. Despite the decriminalization, psilocybin mushrooms remain illegal under federal law, and the initiative does not change their classification as a Schedule 1 drug.
In 2022, Colorado became the second state in the U.S. to legalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms with the passage of Proposition 122. This measure allows people 21 and older to grow and share psychedelic mushrooms and creates state-regulated "healing centers" for supervised consumption. However, it does not include an option for retail sales, and psilocybin remains federally classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
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The result directs police to make enforcement a low priority
On May 7, 2019, Denver voters approved Initiative 301, a measure to decriminalize psilocybin or magic mushrooms for adults 21 and older. The initiative passed by a very narrow margin of just 1.12%, with 50.56% voting in favor and 49.44% against. This made Denver the first city in the United States to pass such legislation.
While the initiative does not fully legalize psilocybin or permit its sale by cannabis businesses, it directs law enforcement to make the enforcement of laws prohibiting the personal use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms a low priority. This means that, while the substance is still technically illegal, the Denver police will not actively target individuals for using or possessing it.
The initiative is primarily symbolic and will not have a broad immediate effect, as arrests for magic mushroom possession in Denver have been relatively rare, with reports suggesting only about 11 psilocybin cases were prosecuted in the three years preceding the initiative.
The vote in Denver reflects a larger trend in the state of Colorado, which has been at the forefront of drug policy reform in the United States. Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana in 2012, and in 2022, it became only the second state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use.
Supporters of the Denver initiative argued that it would reduce unfair drug convictions and spark a national conversation about the potential medical benefits of psilocybin. Opponents, however, warned that Denver was becoming the ""illicit drug capital of the world"" and expressed concern about the normalization of drug use.
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The vote recalls similar marijuana decriminalisation measures
Denver voters have passed a historic initiative to decriminalize psilocybin or "magic" mushrooms, becoming the first city in the United States to do so. The vote recalls similar marijuana decriminalization measures passed in the city over a decade ago.
In 2012, Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use, but Denver voters had already signed off on decriminalization measures in 2005 and 2007. These early city ordinances, passed in a similar manner to the psilocybin initiative, helped establish a progressive public discourse that later led to statewide legalization. While the initiative is primarily symbolic, as magic mushrooms will still be considered illegal in Denver and the rest of the country, it underscores the city's role in shaping the national conversation around drug policy.
The ballot measure, known as Initiative 301, did not differentiate between medical and recreational use of mushrooms. It decriminalizes the consumption, possession, and growth of psychedelic mushrooms for adults 21 and older in Denver. However, it does not fully legalize psilocybin or permit its sale by cannabis businesses, and the drug will still be considered a felony under federal law.
The vote on Initiative 301 was extremely close, with final unofficial results showing a narrow pass with 50.56% of the vote, or 89,320 votes in favor and 87,341 against. The initiative faced early opposition, with some expressing concerns that Denver was becoming the "illicit drug capital of the world." However, supporters of the initiative highlighted the potential medical benefits of psilocybin, particularly in alleviating symptoms of mental health issues.
Three years after Denver's historic vote, in 2022, Colorado became the second state in the U.S. to legalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms with the passage of Proposition 122. This measure allows for the creation of state-regulated "healing centers" where people can consume psilocybin in a supervised setting, similar to the early decriminalization of marijuana in Denver, which paved the way for broader legalization measures.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Denver passed Initiative 301 with 50.56% of the vote, becoming the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin or "magic mushrooms."
The initiative decriminalizes the consumption, possession, and growth of psychedelic mushrooms for adults 21 and older. However, it does not fully legalize psilocybin or permit its sale by cannabis businesses. Instead, it directs law enforcement to make it a low priority.
The initiative symbolically shifted the national conversation around drug policy and the potential medical benefits of psilocybin. It also reduced the risk of unfair drug convictions related to mushroom use in Denver. While arrests for magic mushrooms were already rare in Denver, the initiative further lowered the priority of enforcing laws against them.
