Laura Smith
As of November 2024, Michigan has not decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms. However, there is a growing movement in the state to decriminalize psychedelic substances, with several cities and a county passing resolutions to locally deprioritize enforcement of laws against them. These include Ann Arbor, Detroit, Hazel Park, Ferndale, and Ypsilanti. In November 2021, Detroit became the first city in Michigan to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, with 61% of voters supporting the measure. While these local measures do not legalize the substances, they mean that local law enforcement will not prioritize arrests for possession or use, unless linked to another crime. Statewide efforts to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms are also underway, with activists collecting signatures for a ballot initiative in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cities in Michigan that have decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms | Ann Arbor, Detroit, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County |
| Cities in Michigan that have rejected decriminalization proposals | East Lansing |
| Michigan cities with decriminalization proposals in progress | Grand Rapids |
| Michigan statewide decriminalization initiatives | The Michigan Decriminalization of Psilocybin Mushrooms and Other Plants and Fungi Initiative was not on the ballot in November 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Michigan cities that have decriminalized mushrooms
As of November 2024, the use and growth of magic mushrooms have not been decriminalized in Michigan. However, some cities in the state have taken steps toward decriminalization.
In September 2020, Ann Arbor became the first city in Michigan to decriminalize magic mushrooms and entheogenic plants. The city council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution declaring that the investigation or arrest of anyone for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, or possessing entheogenic plants and fungi would no longer be a priority for law enforcement.
Following Ann Arbor's lead, other Michigan cities have also taken steps toward decriminalizing magic mushrooms and entheogenic plants. In November 2021, Detroit became the second city in Michigan to decriminalize these substances. The same month, Grand Rapids approved a resolution supporting the decriminalization of psychedelics, although this measure did not change any city enforcement practices. Hazel Park also joined the list, becoming the third city in Michigan to decriminalize magic mushrooms and entheogenic plants.
In January 2024, Ypsilanti became the fifth Michigan city to approve a resolution to locally deprioritize the enforcement of laws against psychedelic substances. The Ypsilanti City Council unanimously passed the psychedelics measure, citing the potential benefits of these substances for addressing conditions such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress.
While these cities have taken steps toward decriminalization, it is important to note that the legal status of magic mushrooms and entheogenic plants in Michigan is still a work in progress. There have been efforts to place a statewide initiative on the ballot to decriminalize these substances, but it did not make it onto the ballot in 2024. However, advocates continue to rally for a ballot measure to extend decriminalization across the entire state.
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Michigan cities that have not decriminalized mushrooms
As of November 2024, the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms in Michigan was not on the ballot. However, several cities in Michigan have independently decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms. These include Ann Arbor, Hazel Park, and Detroit.
Ann Arbor was the first city in Michigan to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in September 2020. The Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously to decriminalize several psychedelic substances, including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, mescaline, peyote, and ibogaine. This decision was influenced by a grassroots movement advocating for the use of psychedelics to address various physical, emotional, and mental health conditions.
Hazel Park became the third city in Michigan to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, joining Ann Arbor and Detroit. The Hazel Park City Council removed criminal charges associated with the possession and use of psychedelic plants and psilocybin mushrooms.
The movement to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in Michigan is gaining momentum, with advocates rallying for a ballot measure to extend decriminalization across the entire state. In March 2022, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved the petition form for the initiative, allowing signature gathering to begin. However, it is important to note that the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms remains a complex issue, with potential risks and benefits that are still being studied and debated.
Not all Michigan cities have adopted decriminalization proposals. For example, the East Lansing City Council rejected a similar resolution, citing legal concerns. Additionally, while Grand Rapids approved a resolution supporting decriminalization, it did not change city enforcement practices.
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Michigan statewide decriminalization efforts
Michigan has been at the forefront of the movement to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms" or "entheogenic plants and fungi". As of November 2024, the statewide decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms in Michigan has not been successful. However, several cities and counties within the state have taken steps toward local decriminalization, and activists continue to push for broader reform.
In September 2020, the City Council of Ann Arbor, Michigan, unanimously passed a resolution to decriminalize the investigation or arrest of anyone for activities related to entheogenic plants and fungi, including psilocybin mushrooms. This resolution set a precedent for other municipalities in Michigan to follow.
Following Ann Arbor's lead, the cities of Detroit, Hazel Park, and Ferndale, as well as Washtenaw County, have all passed similar measures to decriminalize or deprioritize enforcement against psilocybin mushrooms and other entheogenic substances. These measures typically focus on decriminalizing the personal possession and therapeutic use of these substances, without authorizing their commercialization.
In November 2021, Detroit became the first city in Michigan to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi through a voter-approved proposal. The proposal passed with over 61% of voters in support, demonstrating a strong desire for reform among the city's residents.
While these local efforts have been successful, attempts to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms statewide in Michigan have faced challenges. In 2022, activists collected signatures for a ballot initiative aimed at the 2024 election. However, this initiative ultimately did not make it onto the ballot, and statewide decriminalization efforts continue.
Despite the setbacks, the movement for decriminalization in Michigan remains strong. Local chapters of organizations like Decriminalize Nature have played a significant role in educating lawmakers and advocating for reform. With a growing body of research highlighting the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms in treating conditions such as PTSD, addiction, depression, and anxiety, support for decriminalization is likely to continue to grow.
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Psilocybin's status as a Schedule I controlled substance
Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in certain mushrooms, is currently listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970. This classification indicates that the federal government considers psilocybin to have "no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse."
Schedule I substances are tightly regulated, and their possession, manufacture, and distribution are generally prohibited. However, the CSA only applies to drugs or substances regulated under federal law, and there can be variations between individual states and federal law.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States, with advocates basing their arguments on the rapid legalization of cannabis. The movement began in 2019, with Denver, Colorado, becoming the first city to decriminalize psilocybin. Since then, numerous cities and states have followed suit, including Oakland and Santa Cruz, California; Washington, D.C.; Somerville, Cambridge, and Northampton, Massachusetts; Seattle, Washington; and Detroit, Michigan.
In Michigan specifically, there have been efforts to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms and other natural plants and fungi. The Michigan Decriminalization of Psilocybin Mushrooms and Other Plants and Fungi Initiative aimed to decriminalize the cultivation, possession, and use of these substances. While this initiative did not make it onto the ballot for the November 2024 election, several cities in Michigan have approved resolutions to locally deprioritize the enforcement of laws against psychedelic substances, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Washtenaw County, and Grand Rapids.
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The therapeutic benefits of mushrooms
While mushrooms have been a part of the human diet for a long time, their therapeutic benefits are now being explored. Mushrooms are a good source of ergothioneine, an amino acid and antioxidant that prevents or slows cellular damage. They are also a source of vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the therapeutic benefits of "magic mushrooms", which contain the psychedelic compound psilocybin. Psilocybin has been found to have the potential to treat a range of psychiatric and behavioral disorders, including depression, PTSD, and addiction. While psilocybin is currently classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States, with "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse", researchers are conducting clinical trials to explore its therapeutic potential.
The movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States began in 2019, with Denver, Colorado, becoming the first city to decriminalize the substance. Since then, several other cities and states, including Michigan, have followed suit, passing initiatives and resolutions to decriminalize or deprioritize the enforcement of laws against psilocybin and other psychedelic substances.
The therapeutic benefits of psilocybin are being recognized globally, with Australia allowing authorized psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin-containing medicines for treatment-resistant depression from July 2023. As research into the therapeutic effects of psilocybin and other mushrooms continues, it is likely that we will uncover even more benefits of these fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
As of November 2024, Michigan has not decriminalized mushrooms at the state level. However, some cities in Michigan, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Hazel Park, have decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi, commonly known as "magic mushrooms".
Decriminalization means that law enforcement will not prioritize arrests for possession or use of entheogenic substances, although it remains illegal under federal law.
There is a growing body of research that suggests entheogenic substances can help relieve post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, withdrawal symptoms, major depression, and anxiety.
As of March 2022, the Michigan Board of State Canvassers approved a petition for signature gathering to place the initiative on the 2024 ballot. However, it is unclear whether the initiative made it onto the ballot.
