Medford Massachusets Move To Decriminalize Psychedelics Has Statewide Reform Implications

While federal reform on psychedelic substances advances and FDA approval of MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder seems imminent, local resolutions are moving at a faster pace in certain states like Michigan or Massachusetts, where an eighth city recently adopted a decriminalization measure.

The City Council of Medford approved a resolution making investigation and arrest for the possession, planting, cultivation, transportation and distribution the lowest law enforcement priority.

Titled "A Resolution Supporting Adult Access and Education for Plant Medicine," the measure states that use and possession of all controlled substances "should be understood first and primarily as an issue of public health by all town entities and that no Medford employee should use any town resources to assist in enforcement of laws criminalizing personal controlled substance possession."

It further points out that the War on Drugs "has led to the unnecessary penalization, arrest, and incarceration of vulnerable people, particularly people of color and people of limited financial means, rather than prioritizing harm-reduction policies to treat drug abuse as an issue of public health."

Although local, the measure urges county prosecutors to cease prosecution of cases of noncommercial possession, cultivation and/or distribution of these substances. 

It also calls for amending a state-level pending ballot initiative that would legalize psychedelics by substituting "language that legalizes plant medicine services in a straightforward manner without an unelected control commission prone to regulatory capture." 

Thus, the amended measure would create a regulatory framework for legal, supervised access to psychedelics at licensed facilities.

Additionally, the Medford City Council endorsed 2023 legislation that would decriminalize small amounts of psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, DMT and mescaline, reported Marijuana Moment.

Also Read: State-Regulated Psychedelics ‘On A Collision Course’ With FDA, Says Harvard Law Expert

Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by chekart and YP_Studio on Shutterstock.