The Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee considered a resolution to decriminalize psychedelics on September 24. They listened to testimony and comments from activist group Decrim Nature Seattle as well as fellow Councilmember Andrew Lewis. 

“Hopefully the city—as tends to be the case on many impactful progressive issues in the state of Washington—can lead the way on setting the table for an important conversation many communities around the country are having,” Lewis said at the meeting.

Resolution

Under the new resolution, psychedelics would become fully decriminalized when using them for religious, spiritual, healing, and personal growth consumption. Specifically, the psychedelic plants and fungi decriminalized include:

• Psilocybin mushrooms
• Ayahuasca
• Igoba
• Mescaline

However, peyote cactus will remain criminalized for its sacred relationship with indeginous tribes and its position on the endangered species list.

Any investigation, arrest, and prosecution of anyone with psychedelic plants and fungi will be among the lowest priorities for the Seattle law enforcement should this resolution pass. This resolution doesn’t decriminalize the cultivation of psychedelics, just their possession. A separate resolution will discuss the decriminalization of psychedelic cultivation. 

Response

Activists are encouraged by the advancement of decriminalization in Seattle. They continue to work together to put drug decriminalization on the Washington State 2022 ballot as well. They say this resolution is the start of an effort to correct the harm caused by prohibition and criminalization. Research also shows the potential psychedelics have, along with therapy, to help with a variety of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use-disorder. 

Additionally, at the beginning of September, activists held a rally in Seattle. There, they urged council members to look into decriminalizing psychedelics as a way to combat the city’s overdose crisis. If Seattle does decriminalize psychedelics, they would become part of a small number of cities who have also done so. 

It will still be a few weeks before the full city council acts on the resolution. The Public Safety and Human Services Committee only listened to testimony on September 24 and they took no action. If the city council moves forward with this resolution to decriminalize psychedelics, we will update you with the latest.

Make sure to check back for more cannabis, hemp, and psychedelic related news.