PORTLAND, Oregon — Drug reform proponents once celebrated Oregon as a model of progress when it became the first state to authorize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms.
However, within four years, an increasing number of cities have enacted bans on this substance, reflecting a significant shift in public sentiment.
In the recent election on November 5, four cities across the state, including areas around Portland as well as rural and coastal towns, voted to impose restrictions on psilocybin.
Additionally, a dozen communities decided to transform previously approved temporary moratoriums into permanent prohibitions, joining the trend that began in 2022 when a substantial number of Oregon counties and over 100 cities opted to curtail or eliminate psilocybin use.
The current fentanyl crisis has triggered skepticism among experts, leading them to contemplate whether voters are reconsidering their support for drug reform initiatives.
For instance, in Massachusetts, voters turned down a proposal permitting adults over 21 to cultivate and use specific plant-based psychedelic substances.
Moreover, all three states that had ballot measures aimed at legalizing recreational marijuana saw those proposals rejected.
Particularly in Oregon, public opinion seems to have shifted against drug reform.
Earlier this year, lawmakers rolled back a law that decriminalized small quantities of hard drugs—such as heroin and methamphetamine—prompted by concerns that it contributed to a rise in visible drug use and overdose deaths.
According to Josh Hardman, founder of Psychedelics Alpha, this apparent regression in drug policy reform reflects a broader trend toward a more stringent approach to law and order among American voters.
Hardman highlighted that Oregon’s previously lauded liberal drug policies now face scrutiny and backlash.
Nevertheless, despite the local bans, psilocybin remains available in over 30 licensed facilities throughout the state’s major cities and some rural regions, which chose to remain in the psilocybin program.
Access to therapeutic psilocybin is complicated by its steep costs, with some sessions reaching up to $2,000 out of pocket.
This financial burden stems from owners and facilitators needing to pass along the expenses incurred for licensure in order to remain operational.
MJ Wilt, who opened a licensed center in Gresham, has invested a substantial amount of her personal savings into obtaining the necessary licenses.
Wilt expressed disappointment about the financial barriers, noting that the price of the program is far from accessible to individuals across different socioeconomic backgrounds.
“It’s certainly not the cash cow that people think or thought it was going to be,” she stated.
In 2020, a notable 56% of Oregonians voted in favor of Measure 109, a landmark decision that legalized the controlled production and therapeutic usage of psilocybin in licensed settings for individuals over 21.
However, the measure allowed cities and counties to opt out, leading to an inconsistent regulatory landscape throughout the state.
Complicating matters further, some cities that approved psilocybin usage exist within counties that have barred it, as cities govern the incorporated areas while counties oversee unincorporated regions.
The resulting regulatory scenario mirrors that of cannabis laws, where local jurisdictions can choose to prohibit various forms of cannabis businesses.
In a similar vein, Colorado became the second state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin in 2022, with plans to accept applications for “healing centers” set to commence in December.
While Colorado permits local regulations concerning the operation of these centers, it does not allow for an outright ban.
Across the U.S., numerous cities have also voted to decriminalize psilocybin, making it legal to possess limited amounts of these hallucinogenic substances without the risk of arrest.
Psilocybin, which occurs in various mushroom species, can induce extensive and remarkable hallucinations.
Historically, it has been utilized by indigenous communities in healing rituals, and ongoing scientific studies are investigating its potential for treating conditions like depression, addiction, and PTSD.
Advocates, including researchers and veterans, continue to support its research for therapeutic use.
Kat Thompson, who founded Fractal Soul, a licensed psilocybin center in Beaverton, noted the positive impact of their services on the 400 clients served in the past year.
Many individuals seeking help with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction have found success through this model, which offers an alternative to traditional therapy methods.
Thompson pointed out that public misconceptions about Oregon’s psilocybin initiative have conflated it with Measure 110, which also passed in 2020 and focused on decriminalizing certain drug possessions.
The poorly executed implementation of Measure 110, coupled with rising overdose rates linked to the fentanyl epidemic, has prompted significant pushback, resulting in state lawmakers reassessing it earlier this year.
“We received numerous inquiries from clients worried that the rollback of Measure 110 meant we would be closing,” said Thompson.
“We’ve had to inform the public that Measure 110 is about personal decriminalization, not the professional therapeutic model.”
Furthermore, the operational differences between psilocybin centers and cannabis dispensaries are often misunderstood.
In cannabis dispensaries, patrons purchase cannabis and consume it elsewhere.
Conversely, psilocybin must be consumed on-site under the supervision of a licensed facilitator for the entire experience.
Thompson remarked, “This is essentially a mental health clinic where someone is here all day with us. By and large, it is extremely safe.”
Since the opening of the first licensed center in June 2023, over 16,000 doses of psilocybin have been administered, with emergency services called a mere five times by staff for patient assistance, as confirmed by an Oregon Health Authority representative.
Currently, the state boasts around 350 licensed facilitators and a dozen licensed psilocybin manufacturers, according to the agency’s latest statistics.
Joe Buck, the mayor of Lake Oswego—one of the suburbs that recently enacted a psilocybin ban—expressed measured surprise at the outcome despite a majority support for Measure 109 during its initial voting.
He emphasized that “Oregon has not effectively managed its drug policy,” which may contribute to some voters’ hesitance regarding psilocybin’s promises.
Buck believes continued research into psilocybin could shift public perception in the long term, indicating that “it really is up to state and federal leaders to navigate these substances through a robust system that fosters community trust.”