A new bill introduced in California could decriminalize the possession and personal use of plant-based psychedelics like mushrooms, ayahuasca, and DMT.
The legislation, entitled Senate Bill 58 (SB 58), was introduced Monday, December 19 as a narrowing of Senate Bill 519 that was shelved earlier this year. The new bill removed the non-plant-based psychedelics ecstasy, also known as MDMA, and LSD, in an attempt to focus on natural psychedelics used for therapies.
SB 58 would allow only plant-based hallucinogens, such as psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, which is found in some plants used to brew ayahuasca. Other naturally occurring psychedelics that would be allowed under the bill include ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid found in the iboga shrub, and mescaline found in cacti other than peyote.
Supporters of this bill hope that decriminalization will reduce the stigma of those using psychedelics to treat mental health or substance abuse disorders. The bill will not fully legalize these compounds or allow them to be sold, unlike weed which is legalized in certain states like Colorado or California, but will state that police cannot arrest individuals for possessing small amounts of the drug.
California would join previously decriminalized areas like San Francisco, Canada, and Washington DC if this bill passed.
Check out the KTLA 5 video below for more information on Senate Bill 58:
Featured image from Roberto Nickson
