‘Magic mushrooms’ would be decriminalized in California under new bill

The Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica has been exploring the use of psilocybin in therapy. The possession and personal use of certain psychedelic drugs such as “magic mushrooms” and ayahuasca would be decriminalized in California under a bill introduced Monday backed by mental health professionals and veterans groups. Supporters of Senate Bill 58 say that the legislation is a step toward ending California’s “war on drugs” and that decriminalizing psychedelics could pave the way for better treatment options to alleviate substance use disorders and other health issues such as anxiety and depression. “These drugs literally save lives and are some of the most promising treatments we have for PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction.” A handful of California cities have already decriminalized the possession of natural psychedelics, including San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Oakland, and voters in Oregon and Colorado have recently approved similar ballot measures. Psychedelics can help bring “material to the surface that needs to come up for processing,” Abedi said, which helps people address the root causes of some of their health concerns.