A proposal that would allow the possession, cultivation, use, and “sharing” of most psychedelic drugs in California was formally introduced in the state Legislature on Thursday.
SB 519, sponsored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco in the state Senate, would permit the personal possession and “social sharing” of psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, ketamine, MDMA, mescaline, and ibogaine.
It’s also a deliberate step towards ending the drug war and eliminating criminal penalties for possessing any drugs in the state, the legislation’s sponsor said.
Wiener’s bill is modeled in part after two successful voter-approved ballot measures in Oregon that legalized mushroom-assisted therapy and decriminalized personal possession of all drugs—including so-called “hard drugs” like heroin.
In addition to allowing Californians to produce and use certain psychedelic drugs, SB 519 officially recognizes these drugs’ medical application.