Politics

U.S. House of Representatives passes… marijuana banking bill

The House of Representatives voted Wednesday (9/25/2019) to let federally-insured banks work with cannabis shops and related companies in states that have legalized marijuana, marking the first ever federal vote on a stand-alone cannabis bill. Some local banks and credit unions have quietly begun working with the industry in states where cannabis is legal. A…

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Politics

…psilocybin mushrooms up for debate at Vancouver City Hall

The motion was questioned for hours… and was ultimately rejected. [A] Councillor suggested council work with police and public health officials to address businesses and dispensaries that may… [be providing access to] psilocybin whole mushrooms… Her hope was the group would file a report back to the city on criminal activity, possible public health impact…

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Politics

Efforts to decriminalize magic mushrooms beginning to sprout nationally

After the Oakland measure passed, an organization called Decriminalize California is working on a statewide decriminalization measure for the 2020 election. As it stands, the government prohibits using federal funds for any Schedule I [fungi] like magic mushrooms, [however, a patented synthetic psilocybin has been approved for clinical trials by the FDA]. Original Article (Forbes):…

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Politics

Psychedelic decriminalization bids gain momentum in cities nationwide

“There is a lot of tension right now between the city and the unhoused community,” said Alex Williams, an organizer on the Berkeley campaign. “And obviously there are many people struggling with debilitating mental illnesses, and so the incredible power of these sacred medicines to expand consciousness and empathy can be very powerful in bridging certain cultural…

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Politics

Group that convinced voters to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms goes national

“Psilocybin mushrooms are decriminalized nationally by 2026,” he [Kevin Matthews] said. “And then we’re looking at what’s possible in addition to decriminalization. There is a regulatory landscape that’s evolving out of this conversation and so I think as long as individuals are no longer being imprisoned for using mushrooms and other psychedelics [while]… there are…

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Politics

Psychedelic medicine is coming. The law isn’t ready

The prospect of psychedelic drugs gaining approval as treatments will force a reckoning for our existing system of drug control. While current policies characterize any use of these substances as illicit abuse, acknowledging that these drugs may offer meaningful benefits will require more flexible approaches. Psychedelic medicine may prove to be the thin end of…

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Politics

Will Oakland lead the psychedelic revolution?

Movements don’t happen in places where people are comfortable with the way things are happening around them. Movements do happen in Oakland, where people aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. That’s been the case time and again, including Oakland’s treatment of marijuana, as it was one of the first places to decriminalize it long…

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Politics

Berkeley City Council considers decriminalizing psychedelics

A resolution to decriminalize psilocybin and other psychedelics will go before a Berkeley, California City Council … Councilmembers Rigel Robinson and Cheryl Davila are sponsoring the resolution, which does not allow for commercial sales or manufacturing. The lawmakers provided background information on the measure in a report to their colleagues and the mayor, describing the medical potential…

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Politics

Federal health agencies acknowledge therapeutic potential of psychedelics

The heads of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) coauthored a new letter describing that status of research into psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, LSD and ibogaine. The letter… contains surprising admissions about the therapeutic potential of these federally prohibited controlled substances. It comes in response to an…

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Politics

Zero psilocybin [mushroom] arrests in Denver first month after decriminalization

From 2016 to 2018, the Denver Police Department arrested about fifty people per year for psilocybin-related offenses. The Denver City Attorney’s Office is still analyzing the ballot language and will present its findings to law enforcement and the mayor’s office. “We’re set to hear expert input in coming weeks to understand what ‘personal use’ and ‘possession with…

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