Politics

Congress votes to block Feds from enforcing marijuana laws in legal states

June 24, 2019By

The United States House of Representatives approved a far-reaching measure on Thursday (6/20/2019) to prevent the Department of Justice from interfering with state marijuana laws, including those allowing recreational use, cultivation and sales. The inclusion of adult-use programs represents a significant expansion of an existing policy that protects only local medical cannabis laws from federal intervention which was first enacted in 2014…

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Politics

States consider decriminalizing magic mushrooms

June 15, 2019By

Iowa state Rep. Jeff Shipley, who filed a bill in February to decriminalize psilocybin in [Iowa] State, brings up another argument: personal freedom. “Where did government derive authority to regulate substances to begin with?” he asks … Decriminalization is not the same as legalization; Denver and Oakland will no longer use city money to impose criminal penalties on people age…

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Politics

The heady, thorny journey to decriminalize… [psilocybin containing] mushrooms

June 13, 2019By

How quickly is the push to decriminalize psilocybin progressing, exactly? So quickly that it’s even surprised psychedelics advocates. “The fact that it’s happening so fast is kind of amazing,” says Brad Burge, spokesperson for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), which leads studies of psychedelic therapies, including the aforementioned MDMA trial. “Here we have…

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Politics

California activists take first steps to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms statewide

June 10, 2019By

…crafting a 2020 ballot initiative to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms for medical and religious purposes in California. While the measure would simply lift criminal penalties for psilocybin, the group’s website also states that the campaign is meant to “build the framework for eventual legalization.” Original Article (Marijuana Moment):California activists take first steps to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms…

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Politics

Oakland City Council decriminalizes all “natural psychedelics” in landmark resolution

June 6, 2019By

Unlike last month’s landmark initiative in Denver, which specifically targeted psychedelic mushrooms, this broader resolution groups together a variety of plants and fungi under the banner of entheogenic plants or plant compounds. The term entheogen generally refers to psychoactive substances used in religious or spiritual contexts. The Oakland resolution more specifically defines the term in reference…

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Politics

Oakland in California… [decriminalizes] magic mushrooms and peyote

June 5, 2019By

The resolution was presented by [an] Oakland City Council member. “We have many mental challenges on our streets today, and it’s important to be able to freely provide whatever medicinal support we can, including the use of plants that have beneficial effects for thousands of years,” Noel Gallo said. Supporters hope the decision will begin a…

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Politics

Oakland becomes 2nd US city to… [decriminalize] magic mushrooms

June 5, 2019By

The City Council voted unanimously to decriminalize the adult use and possession of magic mushrooms and other entheogenic, or psychoactive, plants and fungi. Denver voters in May approved a similar measure for people 21 and older. The vote makes the investigation and arrest of adults who grow, possess, use or distribute entheogenic plants one of…

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