Politics

…[Oregon] Measure 110…

If voters are faced with another ballot measure, Brian Renauer, chair of the Criminology and Criminal Justice at Portland State University (PSU), said they should consider the “most important component of Measure 110 is the increasing of resources for treatment opportunities for those suffering from substance use disorders that didn’t exist during the War on…

READ MORE
Politics

Massachusetts… commits to home grow for 2024 ballot

On September 20, 2023, Jared Moffat, spokesman for the New Approach PAC (“New Approach”), sent an email to supporters of a 2024 Massachusetts ballot initiative that would change how the state regulates psychedelic substances, [stating] “What I believe is that decriminalizing home cultivation, is the right thing to do. And it’s the best policy because,…

READ MORE
Politics

Oregon leaders tasked to act on Measure 110, fentanyl went to Portugal in search of answers. Here’s what they found

The Oregon Health Justice Recovery Alliance released a statement shortly after the trip highlighting multiple lessons it said Oregon should take from Portugal: that decriminalization “remains the right thing to do” but that Measure 110 “didn’t go far enough in creating a comprehensive healthcare approach to addiction.” …lawmakers and others on the trip said they…

READ MORE
Politics

Ukraine: ecstasy, mushrooms to fight war trauma

…calls to permit their use in psychotherapy have been growing in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. Experts in Ukraine are appealing to parliament to facilitate the therapeutic use of these substances. Ksenia Voznitsyna, director of the Ukrainian Health Ministry’s Center for Veterans’ Mental Health and Rehabilitation, is a leading voice in the campaign. “We are…

READ MORE
Politics

Eureka City Council… decriminalizes psychedelic…

Eureka City Council approved a measure decriminalizing entheogenic plant medicines and fungi such as psilocybin mushrooms within the Eureka city limits. A local teacher, Rachel Riggs, told the council that she believes psychedelics can provide unparalleled healing in a community with an elevated rate of adverse childhood experiences… “Entheogens are anti-addictive [and are] among the…

READ MORE
Politics

Oregon marijuana: OLCC… certificate of tax compliance rule

The OLCC announced several changes to the tax compliance rule this weekend at the Cannabis & Psychedelic Section of the Oregon Bar Association’s annual conference… On June 15, 2023, the OLCC approved temporary rules requiring marijuana retailers to obtain a Certificate of Tax Compliance (“Certificate”) from the Oregon Department of Revenue (“DOR”) as a condition…

READ MORE
Politics

California nixes a bill to decriminalize plant-based psychedelics

“Should we be threatening people with arrest and incarceration for using mushrooms? Of course we should not,” says Scott Weiner [who introduced the bill] “If you want drugs to be unsafe, the most effective thing you can do is criminalize them and push everyone within the shadows where they’re where they’re less likely to ask…

READ MORE
Politics

Dr. Bronner’s decries veto of landmark criminal justice and mental health reform legislation in California

The bill, which passed the California Assembly and Senate was introduced by California state Senator Scott Wiener and amended in various committees, would have decriminalized natural psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca tea, allowing adults of age 21 or older to grow, possess and use them without fear of prosecution. Senate Bill 58 also…

READ MORE