Michael Davis
Oakland, California, has become the second city in the United States to decriminalize the possession and use of hallucinogenic magic mushrooms and other psychedelics. The unanimous vote by the Oakland City Council in June 2019 directed law enforcement to cease investigating and prosecuting individuals for using or possessing entheogenic plants and fungi. While the resolution does not authorize the commercial sale or manufacturing of mushrooms, it effectively makes the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties for adult use and possession of these substances the lowest priority for the city. This move is expected to spark a national legalization movement for substances like psilocybin mushrooms, which have been touted for their therapeutic benefits in treating various mental health conditions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Status of mushroom possession in Oakland | Decriminalized |
| Date of decriminalization | June 2019 |
| Number of arrests for mushroom possession in Oakland | 19 cases over five years |
| Number of arrests for psychedelics in Alameda County | 1 per month |
| Number of people involved in the decision | Unanimous vote |
| Number of U.S. cities that have decriminalized mushrooms | 2 (Oakland and Denver) |
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What You'll Learn
- Oakland City Council voted to decriminalize possession and use of magic mushrooms
- Law enforcement will not prioritize arresting or investigating adults who use mushrooms
- Oakland is the second US city to decriminalize magic mushrooms
- Oakland's resolution is broader than Denver's, including all entheogenic plants
- Oakland's decriminalization is expected to spark a national legalization movement
Oakland City Council voted to decriminalize possession and use of magic mushrooms
On Tuesday, June 4, 2019, the Oakland City Council voted to decriminalize the possession and use of entheogenic or psychoactive plants and fungi, including hallucinogenic magic mushrooms. The unanimous vote directed law enforcement to cease investigating and prosecuting individuals for using or possessing drugs sourced from plants, cacti, and mushrooms that contain the hallucinogen psilocybin.
Oakland is the second city in the United States to decriminalize magic mushrooms, following Denver, which approved a similar ballot initiative in May 2019. The resolution passed by the Oakland City Council is broader than Denver's, decriminalizing not just mushrooms but a range of entheogenic plants and fungi.
The resolution states that investigating and prosecuting individuals for growing, buying, distributing, or possessing these substances shall be among the lowest law enforcement priorities for the City of Oakland. It does not, however, allow for the commercial sale or manufacturing of these substances.
Supporters of the resolution highlight the potential therapeutic effects of these substances, which have been used by various cultures for thousands of years for spiritual and medicinal purposes. They argue that decriminalization will improve access to these healing tools and restore people's relationship with nature.
Opponents, however, express concern that decriminalization will encourage experimentation with potentially harmful drugs and that psychedelics may become popular among schoolchildren. Despite these concerns, the resolution passed without any opposing votes, with Councilman Loren Taylor abstaining from the vote.
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Law enforcement will not prioritize arresting or investigating adults who use mushrooms
In 2019, Oakland became the second city in the US to decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelics. The Oakland City Council voted to decriminalize the possession and use of entheogenic or psychoactive plants and fungi, including magic mushrooms, cacti, iboga, and ayahuasca. This means that law enforcement will not prioritize arresting or investigating adults who use these substances.
The resolution passed by the Oakland City Council directs law enforcement to cease investigating and prosecuting individuals for using or possessing drugs sourced from plants and fungi that contain hallucinogenic or psychoactive substances. The resolution states that city money will not be used to enforce laws imposing criminal penalties for the use and possession of entheogenic plants by adults. Instead, the city will prioritize education and expanded access to safe and responsible use.
According to Carlos Plazola, the director of Decriminalize Nature Oakland, the group behind the measure, "these are not drugs. These are healing plants.. We just think they should never have been made illegal to begin with." Proponents of the resolution argue that naturally-occurring drugs such as mushrooms and cacti have been used by various cultures for thousands of years for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Additionally, there is growing pressure in multiple states to facilitate access to substances like psilocybin mushrooms due to their potential therapeutic benefits for conditions such as substance abuse, anxiety, and PTSD.
It is important to note that the resolution does not authorize driving under the influence of these drugs, and commercial distribution and possession in schools will remain illegal. While Oakland has taken a step towards decriminalization, magic mushrooms are still outlawed at the state and federal levels. This move by Oakland is expected to spark a national conversation about decriminalizing plant-based drugs and reforming drug laws.
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Oakland is the second US city to decriminalize magic mushrooms
Oakland has become the second US city to decriminalize magic mushrooms, following in the footsteps of Denver, which became the first US city to do so just a month earlier. The Oakland City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution to decriminalize the possession and use of entheogenic, or psychoactive, plants and fungi, including magic mushrooms.
This move is part of a broader trend of drug law reforms in California and Oakland. California was the first state in the nation to approve medical marijuana in 1996, and Oakland has now joined the growing movement to facilitate access to substances like psilocybin mushrooms for their potential therapeutic benefits. Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as "magic mushrooms," have been used by humans for thousands of years and are thought to pose a lower risk of addiction than other drugs.
The resolution passed by the Oakland City Council specifically states that investigating and prosecuting individuals for growing, buying, distributing, or possessing entheogenic plants "shall be amongst the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of Oakland." This means that law enforcement in Oakland will not prioritize arresting or investigating adults who use these substances, and the county will not prosecute people involved in their use. However, it is important to note that commercial distribution and possession in schools will remain illegal, and driving under the influence of these substances is prohibited.
Supporters of the resolution, such as Nicole Stewart from Decriminalize Nature Oakland, argue that these plants have been used for healing, knowledge, creativity, and spiritual connection for millennia. They believe that decriminalization will allow people to access the potential therapeutic effects of these substances, which have been linked to a range of mental health benefits, including the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Opponents, however, are concerned that decriminalization will encourage people to experiment with potentially harmful drugs.
While magic mushrooms are still outlawed at the state and federal levels, Oakland's move towards decriminalization is significant. It reflects a shift in priorities and a recognition of the potential benefits of these substances when used responsibly and safely. The impact of this decision on the broader drug policy landscape in the US remains to be seen, but activists hope that it will spark a national legalization movement.
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Oakland's resolution is broader than Denver's, including all entheogenic plants
Oakland has become the second city in the US to decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelics, with a policy that activists hope will spark a national legalization movement. Oakland City Council has passed a resolution to effectively decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms and other psychoactive plants and fungi in a unanimous City Council vote.
Oakland's resolution is broader than Denver's, which decriminalized the use and possession of mushrooms containing the compound psilocybin. In contrast, Oakland's resolution refers to "entheogenic plants" in general, encompassing not just the mushrooms but also other plants and fungi containing psychoactive substances. This includes plants such as cacti, iboga, and ayahuasca.
The resolution states that city funds will not be used to enforce laws imposing criminal penalties for the use and possession of entheogenic plants by adults. Instead, investigating individuals for growing, buying, distributing, or possessing these substances will be among the lowest law enforcement priorities for the city. It is important to note that the resolution does not permit the commercial sale or manufacturing of these substances.
Supporters of the resolution believe in the potential therapeutic effects of these plants, citing their historical use by various cultures for healing, knowledge, creativity, and spiritual connection. They argue that these substances can be beneficial for conditions such as substance abuse, anxiety, and PTSD. The resolution aims to empower the Oakland community by restoring their relationship with nature and providing access to these entheogenic plants.
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Oakland's decriminalization is expected to spark a national legalization movement
Oakland has become the second city in the US to decriminalize magic mushrooms and other psychedelics, with a policy that activists hope will spark a national legalization movement. The measure, passed on Tuesday night by councilmembers in the progressive northern California city, comes one month after voters in Denver approved a similar ballot initiative to decriminalize psilocybin.
The Oakland measure, which gained unanimous approval, decriminalizes adult use of psychoactive plants and fungi, including mushrooms, cacti, iboga, and ayahuasca. Decriminalization means the city is effectively directing law enforcement not to investigate or prosecute people for the use, sale, or distribution of these plants and fungi. The resolution cited research linking psychedelics and natural hallucinogens to a range of mental health benefits, including the potential to help with conditions such as substance abuse, anxiety, alcoholism, trauma, depression, addiction, and PTSD.
Supporters of the decriminalization argue that these naturally occurring drugs have been used by various cultures for hundreds, if not thousands, of years for everything from spiritual quests to helping battle psychiatric imbalances. They believe that the decriminalization of psychedelics will allow law enforcement to focus on higher-priority issues. Furthermore, supporters see the potential for a ripple effect, with other cities following Oakland's lead in facilitating access to substances with therapeutic benefits.
However, not everyone supports the move. Opponents are concerned that decriminalization will encourage people to experiment with potentially harmful drugs. Some believe that the decision to decriminalize should be delayed to see the outcome of Denver's initiative. Prior to the vote in Oakland, Michael Clarendon, a physician who lives in the city, stated that he had reviewed the medical literature and did not believe it supported the broad use of hallucinogenic fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear how many people have been arrested in Oakland for mushroom possession, but it is already rare for law enforcement to prioritize arrests and prosecution for mushrooms. Oakland police have documented 19 cases over five years.
Yes, in 2019, Oakland became the second U.S. city to decriminalize magic mushrooms. The Oakland City Council voted to decriminalize the possession and use of entheogenic or psychoactive plants and fungi.
Yes, Denver was the first U.S. city to decriminalize magic mushrooms in 2019. Similar initiatives are underway in Oregon, Iowa, and elsewhere in the country.
Entheogenic plants, also known as hallucinogenic plants, are plants that contain psychoactive substances and can induce a psychedelic experience. This includes "magic mushrooms," cacti, iboga, and ayahuasca.
