Ayahuasca Decriminalization Quashed by Governor Newsom
The Guardian and other news outlets report that Californian Governor Newsom recently vetoed a bill that would’ve decriminalized the use of natural psychedelics, including Ayahuasca, San Pedro, and Magic Mushrooms in California.
“California should immediately begin work to set up regulated treatment guidelines – replete with dosing information, therapeutic guidelines, rules to prevent against exploitation during guided treatments, and medical clearance of no underlying psychoses,” Newsom’s statement said. “Unfortunately, this bill would decriminalize possession prior to these guidelines going into place, and I cannot sign it.”
And as much as it saddens me to hear this, it does actually seem prudent to have guidelines in-place before opening the flood gates.
At least in theory though, once these guidelines are in place, it could open the door for Ayahuasca retreats in California.
And on the plus side – perhaps as a sign to the public that he’s not a total prude – he signed a bill (Assembly Bill 1021) which would allow California doctors to prescribe natural psychedelics if the federal government reschedules them as anything less than Schedule 1 or if the FDA approves it for an exemption to the Controlled Substances Act.
“The physician, pharmacist, or other authorized healing arts licensee who prescribes, furnishes, or dispenses that product in accordance with federal law shall be deemed to be in compliance with state law governing those acts,” the bill states.
We’ll keep our ears to the pavement for updates!
Sources:
