Skip to main content

USDA Approves First State Hemp Plans Following Crops Federal Legalization

California activists could soon begin collecting signatures for a ballot measure to legalize psilocybin mushrooms in the state.

In an email blast to supporters this month, the group Decriminalize California shared the final language of a proposed initiative that was submitted to the secretary of state’s office following a 30-day public comment period. It will take about two weeks for the attorney general to approve the title, summary and fiscal impact report, after which point signature gathering will commence.

The California Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative “advances cognitive liberty and implements a comprehensive, statewide scheme authorizing” regulations for the legal cultivation and distribution of psilocybin “for personal, spiritual, religious, dietary, therapeutic, and medical use,” the measure states.

Adults 18 and older would be allowed to possess and cultivate the fungi for personal use under the proposal. The California Department of Food and Agriculture would be responsible for implementing the system, issuing licenses to psilocybin businesses and regulating the market.

The initiative also stipulates that research institutions would be allowed to conduct clinical studies into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin, and licensed healthcare professionals could research and utilize the substance in treatment.

“Psilocybin Mushroom-assisted psychotherapy may be delivered by qualified and licensed practitioners,” it states. “Therapy may be provided by mental health professionals who have obtained specialized training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and a license to administer Psilocybin for specific indications.”

Advocates will need to collect 623,212 valid signatures from registered voters to qualify the initiative for the 2020 ballot, and Decriminalize California is currently seeking volunteer organizers in counties across the state, campaign director Ryan Munevar wrote in the email blast.

If approved by voters, licenses for psilocybin businesses would have to be issued by September 20, 2021. Local jurisdictions would be allowed to opt out of allowing those firms to operate in their areas—but only if “such restriction has been placed on the ballot by petition in accordance with the procedures for an initiative, or by the city council or board of supervisors, and approved by the voters within that jurisdiction at a statewide election held in November.”

Psilocybin used for therapeutic or religious purposes would not be subject to an excise tax.

Individuals who are incarcerated for a psilocybin offense made legal under the measure would be allowed to petition courts for dismissal or resentencing. Those who’ve already served time for such a conviction could petition for their record to be sealed or redesignated as a misdemeanor or infraction.

This isn’t the only ballot initiative that Decriminalize California has filed. Earlier this year, the group submitted a petition to simply decriminalize psilocybin statewide, and they only recently decided to pursue this latest, broader legalization measure after hearing feedback from supporters.

The psychedelics reform movement has propagated rapidly throughout the U.S., with most efforts focused on decriminalization. Denver became the first city in the nation to decriminalize psilocybin in May, and that was followed by a unanimous City Council vote in Oakland to decriminalize a wide-range of psychedelics. A campaign to decriminalize psilocybin in Portland, Oregon was also recently cleared for signature gathering.

Activists in about 100 cities have started the process to get entheogenic substances decriminalized. Oregon advocates are hoping to place a statewide measure to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use on next year’s ballot, while a separate campaign in the state is aiming to decriminalize possession of all drugs and invest in substance misuse treatment.

The signature gathering process for that latter campaign recently launched.

Portland Activists Begin Gathering Signatures For Psychedelics Decriminalization Measure

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.

Marijuana Moment is made possible with support from readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

Original Article Source: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/usda-approves-first-state-hemp-plans-following-crops-federal-legalization/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New York City Adds More Exceptions To Pre-Employment Marijuana Testing Ban

An ambitious campaign to decriminalize psychedelics in Washington, D.C., is one step closer to placing their measure on the November ballot with the formal submission of tens of thousands of voter signatures. Organizers have been scrambling for weeks to collect enough signatures from D.C. voters by Monday’s deadline amid historically difficult circumstances: a global pandemic, months of stay-at-home orders and protests over racism and police violence that filled the streets of the nation’s capital. But with the help of innovative signature-gathering techniques and allies flown in from across the country, advocates said they had successfully submitted upwards of 35,000 signatures—more than enough to qualify the initiative. If approved by voters, Initiative 81 would make enforcement of laws against plant- and fungus-based psychedelics among the “lowest law enforcement priorities” for the Metropolitan Police Department. It would not, however, legalize or reduce penalties for the subs...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mississippi Medical Marijuana Activists Relieved After Controversial Legalization Resolution Stalls Out

Only a day after a new marijuana decriminalization law took effect in Virginia, top state lawmakers are announcing that they’re already looking ahead to full legalization. A group of Democratic legislators on Thursday announced plans to introduce a bill to legalize and regulate a commercial cannabis market in the state. While the measure isn’t set to be filed until next year, lawmakers framed legalization as necessary in the fight for social and racial justice. “Decriminalizing marijuana is an important step in mitigating racial disparities in the criminal justice system, but there is still much work to do,” House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D) said in a press release. “While marijuana arrests across the nation have decreased, arrests in Virginia have increased.” Other lawmakers backing the broader legalization push include Sens. Adam Ebbin (D) and Jennifer McClellan (D), as well as Del. Steve Heretick (D). On Wednesday, the state’s new marijuana decriminalization policy t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Virginia CBD Program Criticized As Multistate Medical Cannabis Operators Gain Edge

Seven companies are challenging a CBD licensing process in Virginia that resulted in multistate medical marijuana operators getting a majority of available licenses. The appeals called the process “wildly prejudicial.” Out of 51 applicants for five vertically integrated CBD and THC-A licenses, multistate operators received three, a situation that spurred the appeals, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Applicants filing the appeals complained the closed-meeting review process lacked fairness and transparency. One consultant to an applicant said the selections felt “predetermined.” The Virginia Board of Pharmacy reportedly sent information to the applicants in December explaining its selections, but some applicants weren’t satisfied. A board spokeswoman wrote in an email to the Pilot that the board “does not comment on pending litigation.” The five winning applicants , called “pharmaceutical processors,” have a year from winning the licenses to become operational. The multist...
Post a Comment
Read more