Oregon officials have certified a ballot that will ultimately allow licensed medical professionals to administer psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. If approved by voters, Oregon will become the first state to allow the legal use of psilocybin, the main ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms.
The process is the final step before the campaign can begin collecting signatures to qualify the measure for a November 2020 ballot, reported Marijuana Moment.
The Oregon Psilocybin Society (OPS) said in statement that it had to “fight for neutral and accurate wording” from the state attorney general’s office, but is now “generally satisfied with the final wording” for the summary of the measure, which would also reduce criminal penalties for psilocybin-related offenses.
“We appreciate Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and Senior Assistant Attorney General Colm Moore for taking our comments seriously and fashioning language for the ballot that more-or-less accurately reflects the content of the initiative,” read the OPS statement.
From the West Coast to the East Coast, Another Approval
In addition to this Oregon-based milestone in drug policy reform, New Jersey lawmakers took the first concrete step toward legal weed in the Garden State. They passed a bill that would legalize marijuana for adult use and clear the way to create a proper cannabis industry, reported app.com on Nov. 26, 2018.
The decision by a joint session of Senate and Assembly committees does not legalize adult use marijuana just yet n New Jersey, but it’s never been closer.
Three separate cannabis bills were approved: one to fully legalize marijuana, one to expand the state’s existing medical cannabis program and another that would create a system to speed up expungement for people convicted for low-level marijuana offenses.
New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy told reporters that details such as how to tax legal cannabis had not been worked out yet but he was pleased with the progress, per NJ.com.
“It’s too early to tell,” Murphy said. “We haven’t commented on specifics, but I am very happy that this is moving.”
We share your happiness, governor!
