Oakland California residents could see a future ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic drugs. That is if a coalition of activist groups known collectively as Decriminalize Nature is successful. To kick off their series of rallies and educational events they’re holding a historic meetup in Oakland tomorrow called, Restoring Our Roots to inform locals about the value of entheogenic plants and fungi and the group’s resolution to decriminalize society’s relationship to nature.
Through the decriminalization of entheogenic plants and fungi, reads the group’s press release, we can restore our root connection to nature and improve human health and well-being. The release continues; Wouldn’t it be nice to have the freedom to work with these ancient sacred medicines that offer direct knowledge without the fear of persecution and reduce the immediate fear of persecution involved while engaging our right to access natural healing and insight – by decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi?
“Psychedelic plant medicine for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD provide hope to ameliorate the veteran suicide epidemic,” says featured speaker and friend of ours, Ryan Miller who founded Operation EVAC. The goal of Miller’s organization is preventing suicide in the veteran community by hosting recurring social support groups at places like cannabis dispensaries. “Veterans defend rights and freedom and the freedom to ingest medicinal plants is important to fight for. In the halls of legislature, veteran voices resonate and I’m honed to lend my ice to this important initiative.”
Decriminalize Nature’s goal is to legalize shrooms aka magic mushrooms as well as visionary plants such as cacti, iboga containing plants and extracted combinations of plants similar to Ayahuasca—basically plants with indole amines, tryptamines, phenethylamines types of compounds. They’re inspired by current progress made in other states like Denver where activists successfully gathered enough signatures to qualify for the May 7 ballot. This initiative looks to make possession, personal consumption and cultivation of psilocybin for adults 21 and older the city’s lowest law-enforcement priority. It would also prohibit the city government from using funds to impose criminal penalties against adults for low-level psilocybin offenses.
Along with Denver Oregon psyilocybin activists are a step closer to qualifying a measure for their state’s 2020 ballot. This would allow medical professionals to administer psilocybin and reduce penalties for cultivating or possessing the material.
That’s not all a legislator in Iowa is not only looking to legalize psylocybin he’s also hoping to legalize other healing, psychedelic material like Exctasy. H.F. 249 seeks to allow the board of pharmacy to reclassify MDMA (aka Extacy or Molly), Ibogaine and Psilocybin for medicinal purposes. It also removes the penalties when these substances are utilized for medicinal purposes.
Oakland Meetup Schedule
According to Decriminilize Oakland’s Facebook meetup page, tomorrow’s rally to educate, advocate, and connect with the local community will be held at Omni Commons in Oakland starting at 5 pm and ending at 10pm.
The evening will begin with brief talks and testimonials from residents, thought-leaders, researchers and organizers of Oakland’s entheogenic community. Following the talks will be break out tables to participate in hands-on activism hosted by San Francisco Psychedelic Society, ERIE, Sacred Garden Community, Twisted Thistle Apothecary, Bloom Network, Decriminalize Nature California, Shinan Visionary Arts and others. The actions will include letter-writing, fundraising and community building, as well as button-making, flyer constructing and silk screening with the group’s new logo. Organizers say to bring a blank t-shirt, sweatshirt or patch to print on the new design.
“Come hungry, as Conscious Kitchen SJ will be offering delicious plant-based magic meals and curated alcohol-free drinks.”
Leave a Reply