Oregon State on Tuesday became the first state in the US to legalize hard drugs including possession of small amounts of heroin and cocaine as well as decriminalize access to “magic mushrooms” for therapeutic use.
Other US states including Montana and Arizona, meanwhile seem poised in early results to legalize recreational marijuana in line with the trend sweeping the country in recent years.
A ballot initiative in favor of decriminalizing a number of psychedelics was also approved in Washington DC, the fourth jurisdiction to enact the reform.
Voted on those measures at a time America goes into presidential elections.
Under Measure 110, having a small amount of illicit drugs in Oregon would be considered a civil violation and more money will be earmarked for addiction treatment and other services for people with addiction disorders.
“This ground-breaking initiative imagines a better way forward – instead of arresting and jailing people for drugs, it will offer help to those who need and want it,” the Drug Policy Alliance said in a statement as reported by Nation.
According to the Oregon Nurses Association, the Oregon chapter of the American College of Physicians, and the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians the aim of the measure is to keep drug-addicted people out of the criminal justice system and to provide them with treatment.
“Punishing people for drug use and addiction is costly and hasn’t worked. More drug treatment, not punishment, is a better approach,” the groups said in a statement.
However, opponents, including several local groups working on addiction policy, noted that the measure undermines local efforts and does not guarantee a set budget for treatment.
Oregon’s initiative, Measure 109, legalizes the therapeutic use of psilocybin, or “magic mushroom’ for those of age 21 suffering from a range of conditions including depression, addiction, and anxiety.
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“There’s a lot of people suffering out there who need therapeutic options,” Tom Eckert told the local CBS station as noted by Nation.
“We’re actually in the midst of a mental health crisis in Oregon. We have some of the highest rates of mental illness in the country. So the status quo really isn’t working.”
In a related measure approved in Washington DC – decriminalizing “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic substances.
Under the measure, people who use and sell such substances would be considered among the police department’s “lowest law enforcement priorities.”
On the same day, other US states – New Jersey, Montana, South Dakota, and Arizona legalized recreational marijuana which will only be legal at the federal level.
