The psychedelic decriminalization movement has overtaken cities and states in the last few years. Oregon has enacted statewide reform, while Minneapolis, Minn., Oakland, Calif. and Seattle, Wash. city councils have also made moves. Despite success or failure in those areas, another set of city representatives has unanimously approved decriminalization.
Olympia, Wash., the capital city of the Pacific Northwest state, approved a resolution to deprioritize law enforcement from those possessing or using magic mushrooms.
“What the council recognized is that there are members of our community who are in pain, who suffer depression and PTSD, and who have found a source of therapy and healing in this substance,” Kellie Braseth, strategic communications director for the city, said to GreenState. “Hopefully this action gives them some space to relieve their pain and heal in peace.”
Olympia decriminalizes psilocybin
The policy update is not without limitations. This resolution is meant to decriminalize personal use of psilocybin . Commercial manufacturing and sale are not permitted. Driving under the influence, possession, or distribution at school, or any conduct that might be bothersome or dangerous for others, is prohibited. No city funds will be used to enact the policy.
Resolution changes will not extend beyond the Olympia Police Department (OPD). State law enforcement will continue persecuting people possessing controlled substances like psilocybin. If charged by the state, possession of psychedelics could still lead to up to 180 days in jail and a $1000 fine. This city-wide change is meant to encourage police to deprioritize the persecution of non-commercial, personal use that does not bother anyone.
OPD issued a statement to the city council for consideration before the vote, citing that no arrests in the previous five years were solely due to psilocybin possession or consumption. There have been five arrests where psilocybin was found during arrests for Xanax, fentanyl, and other narcotics.
With a few verbiage changes, the department agreed it could adhere to the resolution and not use city funds for the arrest, investigation, or prosecution based solely on psilocybin.
Two Wash. cities have now decriminalized shrooms
Olympia is not the first Washington city to decriminalize psychedelics. Seattle city council passed a similar resolution in 2021. The measure effectively deprioritized the persecution of psilocybin, ayahuasca, ibogaine, and non-peyote-derived mescaline for personal consumption. The vote was also unanimous.
“It is a long overdue conversation to decriminalize these non-addictive natural substances. Our law enforcement officials certainly have more important things to do than arrest people for possessing entheogens, and this resolution affirms that,” Councilmember Andrew J. Lewis said.
Though two cities have enacted policy changes around these compounds, the state has yet to pass legislation. However, the capital city getting online with decriminalization is a positive sign for the entheogen-based state policy moving forward.
