Another California City Proposes Decriminalizing Psychedelics
Policy
Decriminalization is one step behind legalization. Selling entheogenic plants or fungi remains a felony that could warrant prison time.
The 2022 midterm elections featured cannabis and psychedelics decriminalization in many states. Here are the results
Ten years ago Colorado and Washington State busted down the drug reform dam by legalizing recreational marijuana, evidenced by 17 states and the District of Columbia following suit. Once again, this past Tuesday, voters in six states went to the polls with a chance to reform their state’s respective drug policy laws.
Recreational marijuana legalization was on the ballot in Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota, while Colorado voters had a chance to legalize the possession of certain kinds of psychedelics and establish a state regulated psychedelic assisted therapy program (for more details about the laws check out my piece from last week breaking down what these specific initiatives do).
But now that the votes are counted let’s take a look at the results and how they compare to the public opinion polling.
Proposition 122 in Colorado – Legalizes Possession and Cultivation of Certain Psychedelics and Creates a Regulated Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Program*
*At the time of publishing, this initiative has not officially been called by most news outlets, however, based on the percentage of vote in and what's left to be counted, it's highly likely this will pass.
Maryland Question 4 – Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Amendment 3 in Missouri – Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Arkansas Issue 4 – Recreational Marijuana Legalization
North Dakota Measure 2 – Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Measure 27 in South Dakota – Recreational Marijuana Legalization
With Maryland and Missouri legalizing recreational marijuana, they become the 20 and 21st state (plus DC) with legal cannabis, and Colorado becomes the first state to both legalize the possession and cultivation of certain psychedelics and establish a psychedelic assisted therapy program (Oregon only decriminalized drugs).
Despite three states voting against legalizing recreational marijuana, any day that the racist and oppressive drug war takes a few L’s is a good day. While prohibitionists might try to frame these results as more people turning against, rather than supporting legalization, it’s an unreasonable argument to make.
A poll published last month from Monmouth University shows 68% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. Moreover, legal cannabis losing in three very politically conservative states isn’t exactly a surprise rebuke. Rather, Missouri, while a right leaning conservative state, has a far more diverse and heterogeneous population than Arkansas and the Dakotas, making it a much better bell weather for more politically diverse states and coalitions.
With these votes now in the rear view mirror, the good news is we won't have to wait long for the next chance for voters to deal the drug war another blow. Oklahoma’s State Question 820 to legalize marijuana, which was rejected for the November ballot by the state Supreme Court, was recently certified by the Governor for a special election on March 7, 2023. Keep an eye on this space heading into 2023 and beyond for updates and an Oklahoma version of the Ballot Initiative Breakdown.
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