Massachusetts campaigners believe they have enough valid signatures for lawmakers to take into consideration a psychedelics-legalization initiative. This is the first option before activists decide to place it on the 2024 state ballot.
The campaign claims that in just two months after Massachusetts for Mental Health Options began petitioning, it has verified internally more than 75,000 registered voter signatures, which is slightly over the threshold of 74,574 required for the first phase.
The Boston Globe reported on the milestone first , just a few weeks after activists decided to pursue one out of two psychedelic measures that had been approved by the Attorney General’s Office in September.
The campaign chose a more comprehensive initiative, which would allow adults to cultivate cannabis at home. This was not the case with the other proposal. Both measures were identical and New Approach, which backed the campaign, conducted an internal poll before choosing one.
“We feel really good.” Jared Moffat told Marijuana Moment that it’s a relief to have reached this point. The campaign has temporarily suspended the collection of signatures while the town clerks verify the petitions.
The next step, if the internal validation is confirmed and it is confirmed that the activists have collected enough signatures to meet the deadline of December 6, is to submit them to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The measure will be sent to the state legislature if the signatures have been formally verified. They can then decide whether to pass the reform or propose an alternative, or they may decline to act. If lawmakers do not legalize psychedelics before May 1, activists will have until July 3, 2019 to collect at least 12,429 valid signatures in order to place the proposal on November 2024’s ballot.
This measure would establish a framework that allows for the lawful and supervised use of psychedelics in licensed facilities. The measure would legalize possession and gifting psychedelics like ayahuasca and psilocybin, but would not allow for retail commercial sales.
The key details about the Natural Psychedelic Substances Act are:
- Adults aged 21 and over can legally possess, grow, and share certain amounts psychedelics.
- These psychedelics are covered by the limits of possession: DMT (1 gram), mescaline non-peyote (18 grams), Ibogaine (30 gram), psilocybin (1 gram), and psilocin (1 gram). These weight limits exclude any materials that contain active substances or are part of them.
- Possession of amounts up to the double limit will be punished by a civil fine of $100. Amounts above this amount are still criminalized.
- The Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission will be established to supervise the implementation of this law, and the licensing of service providers and facilitators.
- By April 1, 2026, the body, which will be modeled after the existing Cannabis Control Commission in California, must adopt rules regulating access to at least one psychedelic. The rest of the substances will need to have regulations in place by April 1, 2028. The application process would need to begin by September 30th 2026.
- The Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board will “study and recommend” to the Commission about public health, regulation, training of facilitators, affordable access and equity, traditional use of psychedelics, and future rules including possible additions of legal substances.
- The tax on psychedelics bought at licensed centers would be 15 percent. Localities could also impose an additional 2 percent if they allow the centers to operate within their jurisdiction. The revenue would be used to finance the regulation of the program.
- No provisions are made for expunging previous convictions for actions that would become legal.
- Local governments can regulate the hours, locations and types of service centers in their jurisdiction, but cannot ban them outright.
- Adults can propagate psychedelics within a 12×12 foot space.
- Civil legal protections would apply to licensure of professionals, child custody, and public benefits.
- The law will come into effect on December 15, 2024. Commission and advisory board must be established by March 1, 2020.
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Bay Staters for Natural Medicine has endorsed the initiative that includes a home-grow option. BSNM is an organization that spearheaded a dozen local psychedelics measures in the State and has previously criticized the statewide campaign for a perceived lack of consultation prior to filing.
BSNM helped local governments implement policies that deprioritized enforcement of laws against psychedelics. These cities include Salem, Somerville Cambridge, Easthampton Northampton Amherst.
In April , a Republican legislator in Massachusetts filed three reform bills on psychedelics, which included proposals to legalize substances such as psilocybin, and reschedule MDMA, pending approval by the federal government, while setting a cap on price for therapeutic access.
Other legislators have introduced several pieces of legislation in Massachusetts to legalize entheogenic drugs for adults, as well as separate measures.
A second bill would allow the Department of Public Health (DPH) to conduct an extensive study on the therapeutic potential of synthetic psychedelics such as MDMA.
Rep. Mike Connolly, (D), also filed in 2021 a bill that was heard by the Joint Judiciary Committee about examining the implications of legalizing substances such as psilocybin or ayahuasca.
Federal Appeals Court Rules Against DEA in Psilocybin Rescheduling Lawsuit Filed By Doctor Who Wants to Give Psychedelics To Cancer Patients
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