Oregon is an Example of Liberal Drug Policies Gone Wrong
Oregon is touted ‘as an example of liberal drug policies gone wrong,’ says Josh Hardman, the founder of a newsletter and consulting firm on psychedelic research.
Americans Want Law and Order
The fact that Oregon’s drug policy reform pendulum is swinging back towards prohibition is part of a trend toward ‘law and order’ by American voters, he says.
This is a reaction to the change in public opinion about legalizing the use of drugs like magic mushrooms (psilocybin) in the wake of a growing drug addiction and homelessness crisis in the state.
Once hailed as a progressive drug reform advocate, Oregonians have soured on the idea of legal magic mushroom therapy centers and marijuana dispensaries.
It is four years since therapeutic psilocybin centers were approved by voters, but the November 5 election has vastly changed the drug reform landscape.
More Than 100 Cities Have Voted to Ban Magic Mushrooms
Portland was one of four cities and coastal towns that voted for new prohibitions to be imposed on the federally illegal psychedelic drug, while 12 other communities voted for permanent restrictions.
This is a huge turnaround from 2022 when most Oregon counties and more than 100 cities voted for a temporary or permanent ban. They have now voted for the restrictions to become permanent.
This year, Oregon experienced an increased number of deaths by overdose of fentanyl, a drug of choice on suburban streets where vandalism, obscene language, and public displays of crude behavior have raised the ire of residents.
There are more than 30 licensed magic mushroom centers in cities throughout the state, as well as in a few rural counties where residents opted to remain in the drug reform program.
Recriminalizing Psilocybin Will be Costly
Recriminalizing psilocybin will be a costly experience for the psychedelic therapeutic center owners.
The cost to open a center is prohibitive, as is the price of a healing session at around $2,000 a trip.
MJ Wilt, who opened a center in Gresham, Portland, says it cost her tens of thousands of dollars to obtain an operating license. Wilt says owning a psilocybin center is ‘not the cash cow’ that many thought it would be.
Oregon’s drug reform policies have created a disorganized landscape of regulations. A loophole in the 2020 Measure 109 allows counties to opt out after supporting the manufacture and therapeutic use of magic mushrooms.
Complicating the matter further is that some cities voted for psilocybin centers to continue operating in counties that have banned them – cities control the land within their boundaries and counties control unincorporated land.
Kat Thompson, the owner of a psilocybin center in Beaverton, Portland, describes the centers as mental health clinics where people seek treatment for a range of issues.
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) confirms that of the 16,000 doses of psilocybin administered since June 2023, staff at licensed centers have only contacted 911 or taken a patient to hospital on five occasions.
The OHA says there are about 12 manufacturers and 350 licensed facilitators in the state.