Oregon Psilocybin & Drugs Decriminalization Campaigns Join Forces

Two progressive drug policy campaigns in Oregon — one to legalize medicinal psilocybin mushrooms and the other to decriminalize all illegal drugs — have partnered up to help each other collect signatures during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Both campaigns shipped email blasts last week to their supporters plugging the other campaign’s petition, Marijuana Moment reports.

Sam Chapman — manager of the campaign for IP 34, the medical psilocybin legalization initiative — explained in their email that the decriminalization initiative will expand the state’s addiction and recovery services and help “end the cruel and ineffective policy of making criminals of people struggling with addiction by decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs.”

“This measure will be a game-changer. But only if it gets on the ballot. We at the IP 34 campaign strongly support them, as they support us. Both campaigns are working together. We are asking every supporter of IP 34 to download and sign the petition for IP 44 today.” — Chapman, in an email to IP 34 supporters

The decriminalization campaign, Yes On IP 44, responded Friday with a similar call to action for its supporters to sign the medical psilocybin petition.

Both campaigns were in reach of the signature requirement to qualify for Oregon’s ballot before the state’s coronavirus response shutdown; the campaigns each need 112,020 valid signatures by July 2 to qualify.

“What’s one of thing that’s hard to do while social distancing? Helping good and positive ballot measures qualify for the ballot,” said Anthony Johnson, IP 44’s chief petitioner.

IP 34’s architect and co-sponsor Tom Eckert said, “IP 34 and IP 44 have always enjoyed a supportive relationship with regard to gathering signatures, and that will certainly continue until both campaigns cross the finish line and make the November ballot.”