Politics

How should we sell psychedelics?

…so if we’re going to consider the retail sale of psychedelics… public conversation about how a retail psychedelic market might actually work has been all but nonexistent. So far, most debate over how to expand legal access to psychedelics has focused on segmented approaches like therapy, religious exemptions, or supervised retreat centers. The reports from Transform and RAND…

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Politics

Multnomah County, Portland leaders outline drug deflection plan

“We must offer people suffering from addiction alternatives to incarceration or we will be right back where we started,” Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said at a press conference. “When the drug possession laws change on Sept. 1, [2024], it is so important for us to be ready.” In Multnomah County, only people possessing…

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Politics

[Oregon] local governments weigh options for psilocybin regulations

[Oregon], local governments are considering ballot measures and ordinances… Warrenton, OR; on July 23 [2024], city commissioners approved a resolution to place a permanent moratorium on the November [2024] ballot. “I’m totally against the idea of even having (psilocybin) in this community. I’m totally against the idea that we as a society need to start…

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Politics

…exploring intentional psychedelic use in the modern world

The rather abrupt legislative overhaul [of Oregon’s Measure 110] demonstrates the fragility of reform efforts that bypass comprehensive public discourse. For those advocating for psychedelic and broader drug reform, this moment could galvanize efforts to engage in more direct, transparent dialogues with policymakers, stakeholders and the public. …underscores the need for nuanced conversation around the…

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Politics

Lessons to learn from Oregon on psychedelics ballot measure

The Massachusetts ballot measure is much more similar to the one that passed two years ago in Colorado… the campaign Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO) has now submitted another 14,000 signatures to secure ballot placement… “The Natural Psychedelic Substances Act”… [Initiative 23-13 (Version A) 23-14 (Version B)]… The Massachusetts ballot measure sets up a…

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Politics

Lawsuit says Oregon’s psilocybin law illegally discriminates against homebound patients who can’t travel to psilocybin service centers

“Defendant OHA’s (Oregon Health Authority’s) refusal to allow accommodations has placed disabled and terminally ill individuals where they would only be able to access needed services by turning to underground sources,” it continues. “For many terminally ill individuals, this means that they will die without having access to psilocybin services that would have substantially benefited…

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Politics

American Medical Association (AMA) endorses drug decriminalization

AMA delegates voted in favor of the decriminalization proposal, 345-171 [on Wednesday, June 12, 2024]. The body is calling for the “elimination of criminal penalties for drug possession for personal use as part of a larger set of related public health and legal reforms designed to improve carefully selected outcomes.” …the board did recommend adopting…

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Politics

Oregon’s psilocybin industry, a year old, seeks customers

A year in, Oregon’s experiment with the first regulated psilocybin mushroom market in the world is short on customers. …a year of challenges, red tape and waning interest in guided mushroom trips under Oregon’s… legal model… to date, roughly 3,500 clients [from primarily out-of-state] have taken a supervised trip in one of Oregon’s 25 psilocybin…

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Politics

DEA should improve…

…its religious exemptions petition process says the United States Government Accountability Office… The process and reported barriers that exist in the legal access and use of psilocybin for religious practices under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993… According to DEA officials, in 2019, DEA initiated the drafting of a notice of proposed rulemaking related…

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