Michigan City Decriminalizes Psilocybin, Other Psychedelics

Leaders in the city of Ferndale, Michigan, voted this week to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms and other natural psychedelics, and the city in the greater Detroit metropolitan area is set to change state laws to ban the promising drug. became the fourth municipality in Ferndale City Council voted unanimously on February 27 to approve a resolution decriminalizing parasitic plants and fungi, including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca and dimethyltryptamine (DMT).

of Resolution The bill passed by the city council does not outright legalize psychedelics. Instead, the measure states that “the investigation and arrest of any person planting, growing, purchasing, transporting, distributing, practicing, or possessing an enteogenic plant or plant compound on the federal Schedule 1 list shall be at a minimum.” It is a law enforcement agency.” According to the resolution, it is a priority for the City of Ferndale.

The City Council resolution was sponsored by Mayor Protem Kat Bruner James. The move was supported by Decriminalize Nature, a national organization working to reform psychedelic policy nationally, and the Ferndale chapter of the activist group.

“The Ferndale community continues to demonstrate mindfulness and integrity as they ally themselves with nature and its medicine, moving toward collective well-being and community healing.” I have written In a social media post after the city council passed the resolution. “We appreciate the support of all our communities and the Ferndale City Council for passing a resolution to decriminalize parasitic plants and fungi.”

Hallucinogens as herbal medicines

The two-page resolution includes findings from the city council acknowledging that natural psychedelics have been used by humans as herbal medicines for thousands of years. It also mentions that research has shown it to be beneficial for health and well-being.

“The use of entheogenic plants, which can catalyze profound experiences of personal and spiritual growth, is beneficial to the health and well-being of individuals and communities through scientific and clinical research and traditional practices. It has been shown,” the resolution reads.

After Monday’s vote, psychologist Billy Horton, co-chair of Decrinalize Nature Ferndale, thanked the city council for its members’ unanimous support for the psychedelics decriminalization bill. The activist added that the group will continue to educate the public about the safe use of botanical medicines.

“I want to continue to emphasize the importance of psychedelic and alien plants and the ongoing research, research and science that supports them for psychological and physical health,” he told the council in a statement. Told. quoted by Detroit Metro Times.

Ongoing research shows that psilocybin may be an effective treatment for several serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety and substance abuse disorders. .

a Studies published in 2020 The peer-reviewed journal JAMA Psychiatry found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy was a fast-acting and effective treatment for a group of 24 participants with major depressive disorder.and another study Psilocybin treatment, published in 2016, was determined to significantly and sustainably reduce depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer.

This week’s approval of the psychedelic decriminalization measure in Ferndale marks the fourth time the Michigan city has decriminalized natural psychedelic drugs. Ann Arbor became the third city in the nation to decriminalize psychedelics in September 2020, when the city council adopted a resolution. Then, in November 2021, there was a similar move in Detroit, where Hazel Park approved the measure last year. After Monday’s vote in Ferndale, Decrimalize Nature’s national headquarters celebrated the occasion on social media.

“Congratulations again to the @decrimferndale team for all the hard work and effort last night in passing a resolution in favor of entheogenic plant practices in Ferndale, Michigan,” the group said. I have written on Instagram. “4 wins so far in Michigan! Consider statewide decriminalization legislation!!! Go Team Nature!”