The psychedelic revolution has begun, but it is filled with some very gray areas. One of the biggest confusions for people is the difference between legalization and decriminalization. Both of these are different approaches used to change the legal status of certain activities such as drug use or possession.
In Colorado, for example, magic mushrooms were decriminalized in Denver back in 2019 with ordinance 301. The message to law enforcement was to deprioritize to the greatest extent possible the personal use and personal possession of psilocybin mushrooms. However, this does not mention the purchase or sale of psilocybin mushrooms, the biggest distinction between legalization and decriminalization in this case. In 2022 Colorado again voted with Proposition 122 to decriminalize psychedelics across the entire state, and contrary to how marijuana was legalized, individual cities and counties are not able to opt out. For now, this is still just decriminalization to the general consumer.
Legalization means that an activity or substance is fully legal and regulated by the government. This means that individuals are allowed to engage in the activity or possess the substance without facing any criminal charges or penalties. For example, in some places, marijuana has been legalized, which means that individuals can possess and use it legally under certain conditions, such as age and quantity limits.
Decriminalization, on the other hand, means that an activity or substance is still technically illegal, but the penalties for engaging in that activity or possessing the substance are reduced or eliminated. This means that individuals may still face fines or civil penalties, but they will not face criminal charges or imprisonment. For example, some places have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, which means that individuals may face only a small fine rather than jail time.
In the case of drugs like psilocybin mushrooms, decriminalization means that individuals caught in possession of a small amount of the substance would not face criminal charges or imprisonment, but could still be subject to fines or other civil penalties. Legalization, on the other hand, would allow individuals to purchase and use the substance without any legal consequences, subject to certain regulations and restrictions.
So where does that leave us? Well, with some pretty big questions. If Colorado is allowing people to possess and consume magic mushrooms and other psychedelic substances, where can they get them? Remember those gray areas I mentioned above? Right now, the answer to that is most likely grow your own or find a buddy who has some they want to share with you. If you don’t have the desire to grow, and you don’t have that buddy, check out the NLYTN community.