A nonprofit political group has announced the Psychedelic Wellness and Healing Initiative of 2024, which will soon be filed with California officials in hopes of placing it on the 2024 general election ballot.
Earlier this month California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have legalized the possession, preparation and transportation 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”).
Now, proponents of legalizing psychedelics are taking matters into their own hands.
The purpose of the new initiative, according to the campaign’s website, is to “ensure that Californians have the right to obtain and use Entheogenic Substances for medical, therapeutic and spiritual purposes where the medical and therapeutic use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician, nurse practitioner, or licensed counseling therapist”.
The proposed law would allow psychedelics to be legally distributed for medical use, to those with a physician recommendation (similar to the state’s approach with medical marijuana).
Medical conditions that would allow individuals to become medical psychedelic patients includes but is “not limited to: post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidality, spiritual development, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chronic and acute pain (including those caused by cancer, phantom limb, headaches, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal disorders), inflammatory disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, migraines, other diseases and conditions that may be improved or treated with psychedelic therapies, to promote overall wellbeing, or any other physical or mental illness for which Entheogenic Plants or Substances provides relief”.
According to its text, this act “shall implement a comprehensive, statewide framework authorizing and regulating the possession, use, cultivation, production, processing, and distribution of Entheogenic Plants and Substances for medical and therapeutic use.”
Starting January 1, 2025, “any Entheogenic Business operating on land that is zoned for commercial agricultural production and approved by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for food production may cultivate, manufacture, and distribute Entheogenic Plants or Substances as a wholesaler. Starting April 19, 2025, any business that is incorporated in California and possesses a California Seller’s Permit may begin retail sales of Entheogenic Plants or Substances to Qualified patients.”
You can find the full text of this initiative by clicking here.
