Ann Arbor Votes To Legalize Psychedelic Plants and Fungi

The city of Ann Arbor in Michigan has become the third U.S. city to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi.

On Monday, the City Council voted in favor of the decriminalization of natural psychedelics, including Psilocybe Mushrooms, Ayahuasca, the Peyote Cacti and the Iboga Plant, among others.

Psychedelics Decriminalized

The resolution does not legalize the possession, production or commercialization of these substances, but makes planting, cultivating, purchasing, distributing and engaging in practices with entheogenic plants a lowest law enforcement priority.

“City funds or resources shall not be used in any investigation, detention, arrest, or prosecution arising out of alleged violations of state and federal law regarding the use of Entheogenic Plants,” reads the resolution.

The council stated that the use of entheogenic plants can catalyze profound experiences of personal and spiritual growth and have been shown by clinical studies and traditional practices to be beneficial to the health and well-being of individuals and communities.

This was proposed as a viable solution to assist in the treatment of substance abuse, addiction, recidivism, trauma, post-traumatic stress symptoms, chronic depression, severe and end-of-life anxiety, grief, cluster headaches and other debilitating conditions present in the community.

Still Punishable By Law

The resolution clarifies that commercial sales or manufacturing of these plants and fungi, along with possessing or distributing these materials in schools and driving under their influence, is still punishable by law.

So far, the cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz in California had been the only ones to pass similar laws in 2019 and 2020. Denver passed a resolution to decriminalize psilocybe mushrooms in 2019.

Washington, D.C. voters will have the chance to vote on a similar measure to decriminalize psychedelics on the November Ballot.

Picture: Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi) and chacrona (Psychotria viridis) / Awkipuma / Wikimedia Commons