Oregon Leads the Way for First US Psilocybin Legalization

Dec 29, 2021

Read the full Lucid News article for a breakdown on what’s happening at the forefront of Psilocybin legalization in Oregon with Measure 109 ☼

‘Measure 109 permits state-licensed therapists to provide psilocybin to patients aged 21 and over, in a controlled setting, for the purposes of treatment. The manufacture, delivery and administration of psilocybin would take place only at licensed facilities, under strict guidelines.

Those guidelines, including licensing of therapists and therapy centers, would be overseen by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Therapist training may be offered by third-parties, who would have to submit coursework and syllabi to the state Department of Education, as well as the Health Authority.

Any actual change in the law, or therapy access, won't happen for two years. In that time, called a “development period,” the OHA and the state Legislature would work out numerous details – including possession and cultivation limits, who qualifies for licenses to provide therapy or run a treatment center, and who qualifies for treatment.
Measure 109 maintains that recreational possession and use of psilocybin in the state of Oregon remains illegal and a potential felony – unless an unrelated decriminalization measure also passes. Measure 110 would decriminalize possession. Individuals who possess up to 12 grams for “personal use” would receive no more than a $100 fine. Possession of more than 12 grams, and cultivation of the drug, would remain potential crimes.

Aside from carving out an exception for psilocybin use within the therapy model, Measure 109 does not affect other drug laws. And neither measure would change the federal Controlled Substances Act, which declares psilocybin a “Schedule I” drug, with no medical value and a high potential for abuse.

Art by Amanda Lillibridge