Certainly, there have been a number of successful psychedelic reform initiatives in the United States in recent years, reflecting a growing shift in attitudes towards these substances. Here are a few key examples:
Denver, Colorado
In May 2019, Denver became the first city in the U.S. to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms. Initiated Ordinance 301, which was approved by a narrow margin of voters, makes the personal use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms by adults the city’s “lowest law enforcement priority.” It also prohibits the city from spending resources on imposing criminal penalties related to the use or possession of psilocybin by adults.
Oakland and Santa Cruz, California
Following Denver's lead, the city council of Oakland, California, voted in June 2019 to decriminalize all "entheogenic plants," including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, and peyote. The resolution makes the investigation and arrest of adults for using, possessing, or cultivating these plants one of the lowest priorities for law enforcement. Santa Cruz passed a similar resolution in January 2020.
Oregon Psilocybin Therapy Program
In a landmark move, voters in Oregon passed Measure 109 in November 2020, which directs the Oregon Health Authority to create a program permitting licensed service providers to administer psilocybin-producing mushroom and fungi products to individuals 21 years of age or older. Unlike the initiatives in Denver, Oakland, and Santa Cruz, Measure 109 does not decriminalize psilocybin but instead creates a regulated medical framework for its therapeutic use.
Oregon Decriminalization Measure
In the same November 2020 election, Oregon voters also approved Measure 110, which decriminalizes personal possession of all drugs, including psychedelics, and establishes a drug addiction treatment and recovery program. Instead of facing criminal charges, individuals found in possession of small amounts of drugs would have the option of paying a $100 fine or attending a health assessment at an addiction recovery center.
Washington D.C.
In November 2020, Washington D.C. voters approved Initiative 81, which makes non-commercial planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and/or possessing entheogenic plants and fungi among the lowest law enforcement priorities in the District of Columbia.
Each of these successful reform efforts represents an important step towards changing societal attitudes and laws related to psychedelics, as well as recognizing their potential therapeutic benefits. It's important to note, however, that while these initiatives decriminalize or deprioritize enforcement related to psychedelics at the city or state level, these substances are still illegal under federal law.