Should psilocybin mushrooms be legal in Massachusetts?
Ballot Question 4 has Massachusetts musing about mushrooms, for medicinal use, and it’s controversial. It asks if the state should allow the use of certain psychedelic substances under licensed supervision and allow people to grow psychedelic mushrooms at home.
Psilocybin and psilocyn, the active psychedelic ingredients in “magic” mushrooms, give the user an altered state of consciousness that often includes a deep high and hallucinations, often referred to as a “trip.”
The substances are touted as having therapeutic psychiatric benefits in small doses, but a lot is still unknown.
Oregon voters approved a similar ballot measure legalizing psilocybin mushrooms in 2020. Colorado legalized some psychedelics last year.
Here are the highlights of the Massachusetts proposal:
- Question 4 proposes a law to allow people age 21 and older to grow, possess and use psilocybin mushrooms and use psilocybin and psilocyn as well as plant-based hallucinogens like dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine.
- The drugs would have to be purchased at approved locations and used under the supervision of a licensed facilitator.
- The law would allow people to grow mushrooms at home, in an area of up to 12-feet-by-12-feet and to possess up to one gram of psilocybin, one gram of psilocyn, one gram of dimethyltryptamine, 18 grams of mescaline, and 30 grams of ibogaine.
- Proceeds from sales would be subject to a sales tax and a local excise tax of 15 percent.
Proponents say legalizing psychedelics would open a whole new area of psychological therapy for people dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD and other issues.
Opponents cite the risks associated with these substances and the fact that the proposed law does not have safety measures in place to ensure legal compliance.
A “yes” vote allows people aged 21 to grow, possess and use psychedelics with certain restrictions.
A “No” vote keeps the law as it is and keeps psychedelics illegal.