Massachusetts Psychedelics Legalization Campaign To Include Home Cultivation
A campaign in Massachusetts seeking to legalize psychedelics and put the issue on the 2024 ballot has decided to pursue a version of the initiative that allows for home cultivation of entheogenic plants and fungi. This decision follows the state attorney general's approval of two versions of the proposal from the Massachusetts for Mental Health Options campaign.
Oct 01, 2023191 Shares15949 Views
A campaign in Massachusetts seeking to legalize psychedelics and put the issue on the 2024 ballot has decided to pursue a version of the initiative that allows for home cultivation of entheogenic plants and fungi. This decision follows the state attorney general's approval of two versions of the proposal from the Massachusetts for Mental Health Options campaign.
The chosen version, referred to as "Version A," is slightly more expansive than "Version B" and allows adults to grow their own entheogenic plants and fungi. Both versions are otherwise identical. The decision to go with Version A was influenced by internal polling that indicated stronger support for the inclusion of home cultivation.
The campaign conducted initial polling, which showed support for the initiative starting below 50 percent. However, after providing additional information about the reform's intent and effects, support increased. The campaign then conducted another round of polling with expanded explanations of the proposed reforms, leading to stronger support for both versions of the initiative.
The initiative, known as the Natural Psychedelic Substances Act, would create a regulatory framework for lawful and supervised access to psychedelics at licensed facilities. It would legalize the possession and gifting of psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca but would not allow for commercial retail sales of these substances.
Key details of the Natural Psychedelic Substances Act include:
- Adults 21 and older could legally possess, grow, and share certain amounts of psychedelics.
- Specific possession limits would apply to various psychedelics, such as DMT, non-peyote mescaline, ibogaine, psilocybin, and psilocin.
- Penalties for possession within double the limit would be a $100 civil fine, with higher amounts remaining criminalized.
- A Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission would oversee the implementation of the law and licensing of service centers and facilitators.
- The commission would be required to enact rules for regulated access by specific deadlines.
- A Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board would provide recommendations on various aspects of the program.
- A 15 percent excise tax would apply to psychedelics purchased at licensed facilities.
The effective date of the law would be December 15, 2024, with the commission and advisory board needing to be created by March 1, 2025.
The campaign aims to educate the public about the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics amid the current mental health crisis.
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