In Massachusetts, citizens face four issues on the ballot. The third one is particularly intriguing because it would allow the Bay State to legalize” psilocybin and a few other psychedelic drugs.”
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The petition that was put up for election contains a lengthy description of the law that potential voters who are n’t interested in or knowledgeable about the subject might not bother to read. In addition to lobbying statements for and against the law, the research document provided by the commonwealth provides even more detail.
” This proposed law would permit individuals aged 21 and older to develop, possess, and use specific natural psychedelic substances in particular situation”, the ballot question reads in part. ” The psychedelic substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms ( psilocybin and psilocyn ) and three substances found in plants ( dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine )”.
The commonwealth may grant licenses and controls to establishments where customers could buy psychedelics, and the law gives cities and towns some discretion when it comes to when and where the establishments can operate. However, the rules also entails a higher government for Bay Staters:
A Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission of five people appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer would be responsible for administering the laws governing the use and distribution of these kaleidoscopic materials. The Commission would follow rules governing registration requirements, security, recordkeeping, education and training, health and safety needs, testing, and time identification. Additionally, this proposed legislation would establish a 20-member Healthy Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board, which may examine and make suggestions to the Commission regarding the regulation and taxation of these trippy ingredients.
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The substance’s benefits, including the potential to treat some mental illnesses, are claimed by those who support legalizing psychedelics, but bureaucrats are likely to notice another benefit from the state’s purse: income. The trippy substances would also be subject to a 15 % tax taxes in addition to income tax.
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Is the determine a good idea? According to Charles Fain Lehman, who writes in the Wall Street Journal, distributing stimulants requires proper medical care, both liberals and enthusiasts of magic fungi would agree.
” They’re straight that stimulants have real potential for treating some mental diseases”, Lehman writes. However, if stimulants are prescription drugs, they must be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Massachusetts ‘ plan—like those in another states—end-runs this program, creating an unregulated market for hazardous psychoactive drugs. Question 4 would n’t bring psychedelics into the mainstream. It would compel regular Americans to the quirky edges.
Additionally, while advocates claim that psychedelics are safer than other drugs like fentanyl ( a low bar, honestly ) and cocaine, studies have shown that they’re not safe for the recreational user, as well as for some people taking them for medicinal purposes. A small percentage of psychologically ill people using psychedelics in investigations experienced “worsening depression, suicidal behavior, illness, and violent episodes”.
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” In a major study of psilocybin as a treatment for depression, nearly 10 % of subjects reported a serious adverse event within 12 weeks, compared with 1 % of the control group”, reports Lehman. ” For activities included suicidal ideation, purposeful self-harm, and treatment”.
The vote program makes room for “persons aged 21 and older to develop these kaleidoscopic ingredients in a 12-foot by 12-foot place at their house and use these psychedelic elements at home.” This would also help people to grow, apply, and give away their ‘ shrooms outside the jurisdiction of state rules and taxation — what legislators call an “unregulated, unregulated marketplace”.
Similar rules have been applied to other states that have witnessed this trend. After conducting its analysis, a state legislative committee ultimately rejected passing this law.
Just about 400 people a fortnight used Oregon’s constitutional items between January 2023 and March 2024, according to an official from the Oregon Health Authority, according to Lehman’s report to the Massachusetts legislative council. One of the qualified leadership centers shut down six weeks after opening because of the low demand. Oregonians are able to grow their own fungi themselves without any control.
People in the District of Columbia are using so many homemade stimulants that the decline in demand at clinics has resulted in skyrocketing prices. In Colorado, Lehman information,” ‘ tens or maybe hundreds of people ‘ now offer illegal magic-mushroom therapy classes around Denver”.
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Psilocybin poisoning incidents are rising rapidly, as are irrational behavior occurrences after consuming psychedelics. An Alaska Airlines pilot tried to down his plane while tripping on mushrooms, according to our own Victoria Taft report on last year.
Maybe there’s a way to market these types of substances as a way to treat mental illness, but a free-for-all marketplace that’s ripe for abuse and danger does n’t sound like the way to go. This idea of a ballot question sounds bad.