Gov. Gavin Newsom has until October to make psychedelics no longer illegal.
On Thursday, California lawmakers passed a bill that makes it legal for people to own and use “magic mushrooms” and other recreational drugs for personal use.
On Wednesday, the state Assembly voted 43-15 in favor of passing Senate Bill 58, and on Thursday, the Senate voted 21-14 in favor. It will now go to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who will decide what to do.
If signed into law, the bill would make it legal to own and use psilocybin and psilocin, the main ingredients in psychedelic mushrooms, mescaline (except for peyote), and DMT.
The bill does make it illegal to have psychedelics on school grounds or to have them or give them to someone younger than 21.
The bill says that the California Health and Human Services Agency would have to study the medicinal use of psychedelics and send a report with suggestions to the Legislature.
James Gallagher, the leader of the Republicans in the California Assembly, was very against the plan. He said that allowing psychedelics would worsen crime and homelessness in the Golden State.
“Crime and hunger in California are getting out of hand. Gallagher told the press, “If Democrats don’t think this will make things worse, they’re hallucinating, and they don’t even need mushrooms.”
The bill’s sponsor, Democrat State Assemblyman Scott Wiener, said soldiers and first responders with PTSD, sadness, or addiction “deserve access to these promising plant medicines.”
Wiener said that psychedelics are not addictive and that the U.S. should stop punishing people who use them.
Wiener said in a news release, “We know that these substances are not addictive, and they show a lot of promise in treating many of the most difficult mental health problems that are driving the mental health crisis in our country.” “It’s time to stop making it illegal for people to use psychedelics to heal or improve their own health.”
Newsom has until October 14 to either sign the bill or throw it out. If the bill is passed, it will become law on January 1, 2025.