Bay Staters aged 18 and over might soon be able to grow, consume and share certain psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca without fear of arrest. So if Massachusettsans find themselves wishing that they could powder up some psychedelic fungi without fear of getting into trouble with the law… it may soon become reality!
Advocates have argued that this reform of drug policy would not only reduce criminal penalties for individuals, but also help to destigmatize conversations and research surrounding the potential medical uses of psychedelics.
At the State House, there are two bills currently in motion to end any arrests concerning these psychedelic plants within Massachusetts.
Representative Lindsay Sabadosa recently introduced House Bill HD.1450, otherwise known as “An Act relative to Plant Medicine,” while Senator Patricia Jehlen has proposed Senate Bill SD.949 which also bears the same name.
If passed, the bill would decriminalize “the possession, ingestion, obtaining, growing, giving away without financial gain to natural persons 18 years of age or older, and transportation of no more than two grams of psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline.”
These proposed bills would alter State General Law’s Section 50, which concerns Entheogenic Plants and Fungi.
Does that mean that Massachusettsans would be allowed to sell these psychedelics?
No. According to the bill, “‘Financial gain’ shall mean the receipt of money or other valuable consideration in exchange for the item being shared”.
In response to the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms and other entheogenic plants in several cities like Somerville, Cambridge, Northampton, and Easthampton, the state has now taken steps towards a statewide move. This is a progressive step forward that will create opportunities for mental health care providers across the state.
Sen. Patricia Jehlen from Somerville shared with GBH News that she introduced the legislation to support her constituents who used psilocybin, otherwise known as “magic mushrooms,” to alleviate depression and other psychological issues.
