By a vote of 6 to 3 the Portland, Maine City Council has voted to decriminalize the personal possessions of psychedelic plants and fungi.
Mescaline (top left), ibogaine (top right), magic mushrooms (bottom left), DMT (bottom right).
The council of Maine’s most populated city voted 6–3 in favor of the resolution, which would apply to the possession of DMT, mescaline, psilocybin/psilocyn (magic mushrooms) and ibogaine.
“[The] use of psychedelic plants and fungi should be deprioritized by our criminal justice system in order to facilitate access to people who need this for a public health benefit”, said Councilor Anna Trevorrow prior to the council’s vote.
Similar to what Seattle did with marijuana back in 2003, the ordinance would make the possession of psychedelics the lowest enforcement priority, directly police to focus instead on all other potential crimes and infractions
“Portland departments, agencies, boards, commissions, officers or employees of the city should avoid using city funds or resources to assist in the investigation, criminal prosecution or the imposition of criminal penalties”, states the ordinance.
The passage of the ordinance is another example of the growing trend towards a reformation of psychedelic laws. Both Oregon and Colorado have legalized psychedelics, and the California Legislature recently passed a bill to do the same.
