BOSTON — A proposal to legalize psychedelic mushrooms in Massachusetts moved closer to being on the 2024 ballot this week after supporters turned in more than enough signatures to clear a major hurdle.
The group Massachusetts for Mental Health Options on Wednesday turned in more than 95,000 signatures from voters for a ballot question next year that would, if approved, make “magic mushrooms” legal for adults 21 and older, and set up a system of sales and taxation.
“We are thrilled at the response of voters across the state; this is an exciting next step in the process,” said Emily Oneschuk, a Navy veteran and outreach director for the group. “Plant based therapeutics are the most effective treatment I have seen for veterans struggling with mental health challenges after service.”
The effort is being backed by the Washington, D.C.-based New Approach political action committee, which has supported similar initiatives in Oregon and Colorado.
Supporters frame the proposal as a way to help treat mental illness, citing recent studies showing the promise of psilocybin as a therapeutic drug.
Psilocybin is currently illegal under federal law, classified as a Schedule 1 drug under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act along with LSD, heroin and other drugs, with no accepted medical uses.
But that hasn’t stopped at least two states and several Massachusetts communities, including Salem, Amherst and Cambridge, from voting to decriminalize small amounts of psilocybin and authorize its use for therapy.
In January, Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin for regulated use in treating mental health issues. Voters approved legalizing the drug in 2020 as part of a ballot question that also decriminalized the personal possession of small amounts of harder drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Unlike recreational cannabis, Oregon’s law doesn’t allow for the retail sale of psilocybin, and consumption must take place at licensed “service” centers.
In November, Colorado voters approved a law legalizing the drug in therapeutic settings and authorizing regulators to create rules for a new “psychedelics” industry.
Colorado also decriminalized the “personal use” of the substances, allowing adults 21 and older to possess and grow psychedelic mushrooms in their own homes.
Supporters point to a growing body of evidence that psilocybin can help in treating psychological disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder and end-of-life anxiety.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized “breakthrough therapy” status for the psychedelic drug for the purposes of clinical trials being conducted by private research companies.
Recent studies, based on decades of research into use of the drug, showed promise for treating symptoms of major depression, cancer and other ailments.
A veterans benefits proposal filed by Gov. Maura Healey last month would require the study of psychedelic therapies for treating mental health disorders among veterans.
The proposal is one of several initiative petitions that faced a Wednesday deadline to turn in more than 75,000 certified signatures to the Secretary of State’s office to make the 2024 ballot.
Other proposals included a plan to scrap the MCAS high school graduation mandate, set a minimum wage for tipped workers and require voter ID to cast ballots in elections.
The psilocybin ballot question now moves to the state Legislature, which can approve the proposal by passing standalone legislation.
There are already several similar, standalone bills pending approval in the House and Senate.
If lawmakers don’t take up the measure, backers must gather another 12,429 voter signatures by a July 3 deadline to make the ballot.
Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com