California bill would legalize psychedelic drugs

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Lawmakers in California have introduced a bill that would allow people aged over 21 to possess for personal use and “social sharing” a number of psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component of “magic mushrooms,” the Washington Times reports.

The bill was introduced Tuesday by Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener, who claims the listed drugs have been beneficial for users such as military veterans suffering from trauma-related mental illnesses.

In addition to psilocybin, the bill includes dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline excluding peyote, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, often called ecstasy).

“People’s lives are literally transformed because of these substances,” Wiener said in a statement. The “date rape” drug Ketamine has been removed from the list.

Testifying in support of the bill, Dr. Robert Grant, who researches ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for depression and anxiety at the University of California, said: “Certainly people should not be incarcerated for seeking a healing path with these medications.”

The bill passed 5-3 in the Assembly Public Safety Committee, and by 21-16 in the state Senate, the Washington Times said. The measure now passes to the health committee before it can go to the full Assembly. In the event the bill is passed in California, the listed drugs would remain illegal under federal law, the Washington Times said.

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