The full California Assembly has voted to pass legislation to legalize the personal possession of certain psychedelics.
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The Assembly voted 42 to 11 to pass Senate Bill 58, a measure to legalize the “possession, preparation, obtaining, transfer, as specified, or transportation of” psilocybin, psilocyn, mescaline, ibogaine and DMT. The proposal has already been approved by the state’s full Senate but will need to go back for one final vote before it can be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom given it was amended.
Specifically Senate Bill 58 would legalize the possession of up to two grams of DMT, 15 grams of ibogaine, two grams of psilocybin (or up to four ounces of “a plant or fungi containing psilocybin”) and two grams of psilocyn (or up to four ounces of “a plant or fungi containing psilocybin”).
SB 58 would allow for “group counseling and community-based healing” and would legalize “any spores or mycelium capable of producing mushrooms or other material which contain psilocybin or psilocyn.”
In a press release the bill’s sponsor Senator Scott Weiner said: “California’s veterans, first responders, and others struggling with PTSD, depression, and addiction deserve access to these promising plant medicines. SB 58 has prudent safeguards in place after we incorporated feedback from three years of deep engagement with a broad array of stakeholders.”
He continues: “We know these substances are not addictive, and they show tremendous promise in treating many of the most intractable conditions driving our nation’s mental health crisis. It’s time to stop criminalizing people who use psychedelics for healing or personal well-being.”
You can find the full text of Senate Bill 58 by clicking here.
