California Lawmakers Give Final Approval to Psychedelic Plant and Fungi Decriminalization Bill

California lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a bill to decriminalize personal possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms and several plant-based psychedelics including DMT and mescaline for adults 21-and-older. The measure passed 21-3-6 and moves next to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his signature. 

The legislation also requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to convene a workgroup to study and make recommendations on the establishment of a framework governing therapeutic use, including facilitated or supported use, of the substances. The bill requires the workgroup to send a report with its recommendations to the legislature on or before January 1, 2025, according to the bill text. 

Two other states, Oregon and Colorado, have also reformed state laws related to possession of psychedelic plants. In November 2022, Colorado voters approved a ballot question to decriminalize personal possession of psychedelic plants and fungi and establish a regulated therapy system to provide people with therapeutic access to the substances. 

In 2020, Oregon voters approved a ballot question to decriminalize possession of all drugs, including psychedelics and another to establish a regulated psilocybin therapy system. 

In 2020, Washington, D.C. voters approved a measure to decriminalize and deprioritize the possession and use of psychedelic plants and fungi with 76% voter approval.  

The City Councils of Oakland, Santa Cruz, Cruz and San Francisco have already passed resolutions deprioritizing the enforcement of the possession and use psychedelic plants and fungi, effectively decriminalizing in those cities.  

Since June 2019, the cities of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Somerville and Cambridge, Massachusetts have each decriminalized the possession and use of psychedelic plants and fungi at the local level.