Magic Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative Clears Hurdle

The California Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative would decriminalize the possession, sale, transport and cultivation of psilocybin “magic” mushrooms for adults 21 and over in California. In a press release dated November 1, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced that signature gathering has begun.

Kevin P. Saunders and Dimitric Merchant, who are behind the bill, must gather 365,880 valid signatures no later than April 30, 2018 in order to qualify for the 2018 ballot. Per state law, 365,880 signatures makes up five percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2014 general election.

In the employment world, little will change, since standard pre-employment tests generally don’t test for psilocybin, whether or not they’d like to admit it. That’s because conventional drug tests only test for five types of drug classes, and psilocybin isn’t one of them. Even the United States Army does not regularly test for psilocybin mushrooms, because magic mushroom usage isn’t as common as other illicit drugs.

California has been a pioneer of progressive medical policies, such as Proposition 215, which established the first state medical cannabis system in the United States. Like cannabis and other holistic medicines, medical interest in psilocybin is rapidly growing.

Current interest has been focused on psilocybin’s relationship with serotonin receptors. Recent findings have suggested that psilocybin mushrooms can help with severe depression. “Psilocybin’s unique ability to bind to serotonin receptors, as well as other receptors that scientists do not fully understand, has led to a myriad of potential medical uses,” wrote Sean Soni of the Michigan Institute of Technology in 2015. Psilocybin mushrooms have shown promise with a unique calming effect for cancer patients with end-of-life anxiety.

The first step is decriminalization, which would save the state about a few million dollars per year, according to the initiative’s proponents. States like Oregon and California decriminalized cannabis in the 1970’s before medical cannabis became a reality. The initiative was filed on August 25.