California considers decriminalization of possession and consumption of plant-based hallucinogens

The California Senate will consider a bill that seeks to decriminalize (not legalize) the possession and consumption of plant-based psychedelics. The standard is supported by mental health professionals and veterans and is intended to aid in the treatment of addictions and disorders such as anxiety or depression. The proposal was rejected by law enforcement officials, who were concerned about the possible risks to public safety caused by people under the influence of hallucinogenic substances.

El impulsor de la norma, el senador estatal Scott Wiener, señaló en un comunicado que "los psicodélicos tienen una capacidad tremenda para ayudar a la gente a curarse; pero ahora mismo, consumirlos es un delito penal. These drugs literally save lives and are some of the most promising treatments we have for PTSD, anxiety, depression and addiction."

Rejection of a previous version

This is the second time Wiener has introduced this proposal in the California Senate. Four months ago, an earlier version was voted down in a key state Assembly committee between the opposition from law enforcement and a group of democrats, que se unieron a los republicanos para votar en contra. En el nuevo proyecto, Wiener ha excluido los psicodélicos sintéticos, como el LSD y el MDMA, (éxtasis), que aparecían en el proyecto anterior.

At the time, the California District Attorneys Association opposed the passage of the rule: "Without further evidence that these hallucinogenic drugs are no more dangerous than cannabis, we cannot support their legalization. Hallucinations can be dangerous to both users and bystanders, and it is not clear that the benefit of legalizing these drugs outweighs the cost to the common good."

Rejection of law enforcement

SB 58 would only allow plant-based hallucinogens, such as psilocybin, the active ingredient in "magic mushrooms," and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, found in some plants used to make ayahuasca. Other natural psychedelics that would be allowed under the bill include ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid found in the iboga bush, and mescaline, found in cacti other than peyote.

Además, de aprobarse, no se autorizaría la venta de estos psicodélicos en dispensarios -ni en cualquier establecimiento-. If enacted, police would not be able to arrest people for possession or personal use of limited quantities of the listed hallucinogens. It would only eliminate the criminal sanction for possession or personal consumption of small quantities and would continue to prohibit the sale of these drugs to minors.