New Calif. ballot measure to legalize psychedelic mushrooms gathering signatures

Californians may soon have an opportunity to vote on legalizing magic mushrooms. 

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber announced that a new initiative to legalize psilocybin mushrooms, known as magic mushrooms, has started to collect signatures. 

The big picture: If the initiative becomes law, magic mushrooms would be decriminalized for anyone 21 and older. 

• Decriminalization would allow for people to cultivate, manufacture, process, distribute, transport, possess, store, sell and use magic mushrooms. 
• The petition also would decriminalize the use of any edible products derived from the hallucinogenic chemical compounds found in magic mushrooms. 
• Further, qualified healthcare practitioners would be allowed to use magic mushrooms for research, treatment and therapy. 
• The initiative would also seal all criminal records for prior magic mushroom-related offenses if the sentence is completed. 
• The initiative was brought forth by Ryan Munevar, the campaign director for Decriminalize California, which unsuccessfully tried to decriminalize psychedelics multiple times in recent years. 

By the numbers: Munevar and Decriminalize California need to collect 546,651 signatures from registered voters in California in order to place it on the ballot in 2024. 

• The nearly 550,000 signatures requirement is five percent of the votes cast for governor in the November 2022 election. 
• Proponents have until Jan. 10, 2024, to submit the signatures to county elections officials. 

What we’re watching: Along with the initiative to decriminalize magic mushrooms, the California Legislature is also taking up a bill that would decriminalize psychedelics. 

• The California Senate already passed Senate Bill 58, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D–San Francisco), which would decriminalize psychedelics for anyone 21 and older. 
• Late last month the Assembly Public Safety Committee passed the bill on a party-line vote. SB 58 will be heard by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations before heading to the full Assembly for a floor vote.