Legalizing the trip: One ‘shroom advocate’s playbook

Here’s something about Washington, D.C. that even a lot of people who
live here don’t know: Psychedelic mushrooms are basically legal. In 2020
voters approved a ballot initiative that made growing, purchasing, and
distributing mushrooms the lowest law enforcement priority for D.C.
police.

Cities and states are way ahead of the federal government. There are
movements in more than two dozen states to either study, decriminalize,
or outright legalize mushrooms and other psychedelics. It’s happening in
blue states like California, New York and Vermont, as well as in red
states like Utah, Kansas, and Florida. Cities such as Ann Arbor,
Oakland, Seattle, and Denver, have, like D.C., all decriminalized
mushrooms.

The epicenter of this movement, as was the case with cannabis
legalization, is Colorado. In November, voters will decide whether to
approve the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022, which would create
state-regulated “healing centers” where anyone over 21 could receive
psilocybin-assisted therapy.

In this week’s episode, Ryan traveled to Littlejohn, Colorado and sat
down with Veronica Lightning Horse Perez, the co-leader of the Colorado
mushroom campaign. They talked about how psychedelics helped treat her
mental health issues, what it’s like to undergo psychedelic therapy with
mushrooms and ayahuasca, and her journey to becoming the unlikely
political activist at the forefront of mushroom legalization.

 

Ryan Lizza is a Playbook co-author for POLITICO.
Veronica Lightning Horse Perez is co-organizer of Natural Health
Colorado.
Afra Abdullah is an associate producer for POLITICO audio.
Kara Tabor is a producer for POLITICO audio.
Brook Hayes is a senior editor for POLITICO audio.
Adam Allington is senior producer for POLITICO audio.
Jenny Ament is executive producer for POLITICO audio.