California Attorney General Rob Bonta, D, issued an official title and summary for Decriminalize California’s psilocybin mushroom initiative on September 16. The initiative, titled California Psilocybin Initiative, looks to legalize the “personal, medical, therapeutic, religious, and dietary use of Psilocybin Mushrooms” for citizens 21 and over. Additionally, the measure would legalize the cultivation, retail sale, social sharing, and on-site consumption of psilocybin mushrooms. 

Specifically, the measure explains: “For individuals 21 and over, decriminalizes under state law the cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, transportation, possession, storage, consumption, and retail sale of psilocybin mushrooms, the hallucinogenic chemical compounds contained in them, and edible products and extracts derived from psilocybin mushrooms.”

Challenge

Now activists have 180 days from September 16, when the initiative became approved, to collect 623,212 signatures. Ryan Munevar is the campaign director of Decriminalize California. He says he and his team are ready to take on the challenge and put psilocybin mushroom legalization on the ballot. With nearly 2,800 volunteers across the state, signature gathering events will take place at farmers markets and other various events.

Furthermore, those interested in signing the petition but can’t get to the signature gathering events can still have their say. Decriminalize California is encouraging those people to print off the petition from their website and mail it in. That way, their signature can still be counted towards putting the measure on the 2022 ballot. 

“I feel pretty damn good honestly (about the initiative making it to the ballot). People are so psyched for psychedelics,” Munevar said.

Reform

If the California Psilocybin Initiative passes, it would make California the first state to legalize medical and recreational use of psilocybin. In 2020, Oregon voters passed a similar measure for the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms. However, California would be taking the measure to the next step with recreational legalization as well. 

Decriminalize California has a challenge ahead of them, but they appear to be confident. Psilocybin mushroom legalization may be on the ballot in 2022 in California. Only time will tell. 

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