A Massachusetts campaign claims it has recovered from a mishap in the signature collection process and will submit more than enough petitions to force a legislative consideration of an initiative for psychedelics’ legalization before putting the question on the ballot 2024.
A spokesperson for Marijuana Moment reported that Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, after initially submitting what they considered sufficient signatures internally verified for the measure, was informed of a technical problem affecting tens and thousands of petitions. After officials reviewed the ballot sheets, activists were alerted that some forms contained a union logo in violation of state signature gathering rules.
After deploying hundreds petitioners to an intensive weekend campaign, the New Approach PAC supported campaign announced on February 2 that it had collected approximately 100,000 additional signatures on top of the ones already submitted to the local clerks in the previous month. This gives them the confidence that they have more than made up for the difference.
Jared Moffat told Marijuana Moment that the rapid growth of signatures is proof of the reform’s popularity. It also gave the campaign a chance to “connect with voters,” said Moffat.
To begin the process, supporters need to collect 74,574 valid signatures. This will allow them to present the reform to state legislators next year. The new batch of signatures will be submitted by Wednesday to the municipal clerks. The petitions will be vetted and signed by local officials. They must then turn in the signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office by December 6th.
Jennifer Manley, a campaign spokesperson, stated in a Tuesday press release that they were “thrilled” by the number of people who signed the petition to create a regulated framework for delivering natural psychedelic medicine to Massachusetts residents and veterans suffering from PTSD and depression. This will give hope to many people who have been unable to find relief from long-term pharmaceuticals.
The latest development came about two months after activists decided to pursue one out of two psychedelics-related measures that had been cleared by the office of the state attorney general 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 the campaign surveyed its own members before choosing which one to implement.
The legislature has the option to either enact reforms, or propose alternatives, if the signatures have been formally verified. 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 the ballot for November 2024.
This measure would establish a framework that allows for lawful, supervised access to psychedelics in licensed facilities. The measure would legalize possession and gifting psychedelics like psilocybin or ayahuasca. However, it 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 distribute certain amounts of 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 up to the double limit of the maximum amount would result in a civil fine of $100, while amounts over that remain 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 make recommendations 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 tax if the center is allowed 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 for those who engage in a legalized activity involving psychedelics.
- The law will come into effect on December 15, 2024. Commission and advisory board must be established by March 1, 2020.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the campaign noted that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Shealey (D), has introduced separate legislation which includes provisions to Create a psychedelics Working Group to Study and Make Recommendations About the Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Substances like Psilocybin or MDMA for Military Veterans.
Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, a local psychedelics group, says it is preparing a revised version to be presented to lawmakers this spring. The group has previously supported the ballot measure version that allowed home cultivation. It now proposes to remove language about creating a regulatory panel to oversee the program.
BSNM Founder James Davis said to WBUR they are asking legislators for a revised version of the initiative. The group has said that if the initiative is passed as written in November next year, it will continue to push for legislative changes.
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 federal approval, while setting a cap on the price of 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 a 2021 bill that was heard by the Joint Judiciary Committee in . The hearing focused on the implications of legalizing substances such as psilocybin or ayahuasca.
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The original Marijuana moment article Massachusetts Psychedelics campaign to submit 100,000 more signatures for legalization ballot initiative after officials discover invalid petition forms first appeared.
