California lawmakers on Thursday narrowly approved a bill, backed by veterans and criminal justice reform advocates, to decriminalize the possession and personal use of a limited list of natural psychedelics, including “magic mushrooms.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom will now decide the fate of Senate Bill 58, which would abolish criminal penalties for possession and use of psilocybin and psilocin, the active ingredients in psychedelic mushrooms, mescaline and dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, known as ayahuasca. The bill would also require the California Health and Human Services Agency to investigate the therapeutic use of psychedelics and submit a report of findings and recommendations to the legislature.

The measure passed

the Senate

21 to 14, with several Democrats opposing.

California veterans, first responders and others struggling with PTSD, depression and addiction deserve access to these promising herbal medicines, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) said in a statement after the bill passed the General Assembly in a bipartisan vote. 11 votes. It’s time to stop criminalizing people who use psychedelics for healing or personal well-being.

The measure would only apply to persons aged 21 and older

,

and does not authorize the personal transfer or sale of psychedelics in pharmacies.

rather,

it would

rather

means that the police cannot arrest people who have or use limited amounts of drugs. Oakland and Santa Cruz have taken similar measures.

Criminal justice reform advocates say decriminalizing psychedelics is a step toward ending a war on drugs, while veterans groups say it would help destigmatize psychedelics that have in some cases been more effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression than traditional drugs. and therapies.

Jesse Gould, former army ranger and founder of the Heroic Hearts Project sponsor of SB 58, said the measure would help prevent veterans from having to choose between “saving their own lives or becoming a criminal in the eyes of their country.” .

Gould said psychedelics helped him on his own journey with PTSD after three deployments to Afghanistan. He said many of his organization’s clients have similarly turned to hallucinogens

guidance relief

after other interventions failed.

“This is just very basic: people shouldn’t be criminalized if they use personal possession of these substances. If people choose to do that in their own privacy, they should absolutely be able to have that option,” Gould said. “We have just come out of 20 years of war. There is clearly a mental health problem.”

The measure passed by the Senate is a scaled-down version Wiener first introduced last year that would also have decriminalized the use and possession of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and LSD. Wiener also this summer agreed to remove ibogaine, a psychoactive alkaloid found in the iboga bush, from the decriminalization section of SB 58 and instead add it to

the list of therapies to be investigated. Bill to decriminalize psychedelics in California gutted by lawmakers

These changes allayed some concerns among lawmakers, including a handful of Republicans who voted in favor of the proposal.

Assembly member Bill Essayli (R-Corona) said he was convinced to support the bill after it was revised to include just three plant-based psychedelics and because it is largely restricted to personal use and has an age requirement of 21.

“I think the data makes it clear that while pharmaceuticals certainly benefit some people, they don’t benefit society as a whole,” Essayli said. “And I think we can say that our approach to mental health in the medical community isn’t working. I think we’re worse off now than we were before.”

But the bill divided Democrats, with many of the caucus’ more moderate members abstaining or voting against the measure.

Law enforcement lobbied against the proposal, arguing that the drugs had been understudied and could lead to an increase in crime. Parent organizations are also concerned that the bill lacks the necessary guardrails to deter young adults and teens from experimenting with the drugs.

Lisa Hudson, a Marin County mom who has opposed the bill, said her 16-year-old son Shayne Rebbetoy died in their home after ingesting mushrooms and running off their deck, thinking he could fly. Hudson said the bill fails to include necessary education, research and training for first responders.

“I fear more deaths among teens, among young adults, among veterans and those seeking this therapeutic benefit,” Hudson said. “Because in an unregulated model you spin the roulette wheel. … To me it’s just so irresponsible and reckless.”

Newsom has until October. 14 to approve or veto hundreds of bills. If signed, the bill would go into effect on January 1, 2025.