Initiative 81

Initiative 81 was a Washington, D.C. voter-approved ballot initiative that changed the police priorities related to the possession, consumption, and cultivation of entheogenic plants and fungi. The short title of the initiative was Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020.[1] The measure was approved by 76% of voters on November 3, 2020[2][3] and went into effect on March 16, 2021.[4]

Creation

After the birth of her first child, proposer Melissa Lavasani fell into a deep depression and while she was able to persevere by relying on a daily routine,[5] after her second child she began to develop chronic pain and severe postpartum depression. After listening to a Joe Rogan podcast that featured mycologist Paul Stamets, she learned that psilocybin could be used as anti-depressant to treat mental health. She ordered spores over the internet, began to grow them at home, and tried microdosing.[6] She eventually went on to try ayahuasca in 2019 which she says, “it was like I was I turned out to be not only back to myself, but almost like a better version of myself.”[6]

After learning about the effort to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms in Denver, Lavasani reached out the campaign's organizer, who put her in touch with Adam Eidinger, who spearheaded had spearheaded Initiative 71 in 2014. After a dinner meeting, Eidinger worked to convince her that she would be effective proposer for the ballot initiative.[6]

On December, 20, 2019, Lavasani submitted the final text of ballot initiative at the DC Board of Elections and formally created the Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC.[1] The subject matter hearing took place on Wednesday, February 5, 2020[7] and at the hearing the DC Board of Elections approved the ballot initiative's language.[8]

Petition gathering

Due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council of the District of Columbia changed the way political campaigns were allowed to collect signatures to achieve ballot access.[9] For the first time, voters were able to submit completed petitions through the mail or electronically.[9] Nikolas Schiller, the campaign's field director, said there were over 7,000 petitions that were returned by mail.[10] Between May and July, approximately 60 days, the campaign collected more than 36,000 signatures from voters.[11] On August 5, 2020, the DC Board of Elections verified that 25,477 signatures, 642 more than what was legally required, were properly submitted, which placed the initiative on the general election ballot.[12]

Opposition in Congress

The initiative was opposed by Maryland Congressman Andy Harris, who vowed to force a House Appropriations Committee vote to take it off the ballot.[13] He later filed an amendment to make the law only apply to medically prescribed psilocybin, but withdrew it.[14]

Election
Initiative 81
Choice Votes  %
Referendum passed Yes 214,685 76.18
No 67,140 23.82
Total votes 281,825 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 517,890 54.41%

Source: DC Board of Elections[2]

Completion

The congressional review period ended at 12:01 a.m. on March 16, 2021.[4] The measure makes the enforcement of drug laws against psilocybin mushrooms and psychedelic plants like cacti, iboga, and naturally occurring DMT, found in preparations like ayahuasca, to be among the Metropolitan Police Department's lowest priorities. The measure also calls upon Attorney General for the District of Columbia and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia to cease prosecution of residents of the District of Columbia for activities associated with those natural plant medicines.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Initiative 81". Decriminalize Nature DC. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  2. "Election Results". Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  3. Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-11-03). "D.C. voters approve ballot question to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
  4. "Council of the District of Columbia Legislative Information Management System". Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  5. Austermuhle, Martin (2020-01-09). "This D.C. Group Wants To Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms And Some Psychedelic Plants". WAMU. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  6. Beaujon, Andrew (2020-07-27). "How the "Most Normal Person Ever" Became the Face of a Movement to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  7. "Notice ID: N0089058- Elections, Board of - Notice of Public Hearing - Receipt and Intent to Review Initiative Measure "Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020", DC Regulations". dcregs.dc.gov. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  8. Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-02-05). "Vote to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms,' other psychedelics may reach D.C. ballot in November". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  9. Kaplan, v (2020-05-12). "D.C. 'magic mushrooms' petition to be signed online, by mail". Washington Times. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  10. Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-08-05). "D.C. residents to vote on decriminalization of 'magic mushrooms' on November ballot". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  11. Peterson, Kristina (2020-07-11). "Psychedelic Mushrooms Could Pit D.C. Against Congress". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  12. Austermuhle, Martin (2020-08-05). "Should D.C. Police Ease Enforcement Of Magic Mushroom Laws? Voters Will Get To Weigh In This Fall". DCist. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  13. Nelson, Steven (July 8, 2020). "Not groovy, man: Congressman vows to stop DC from allowing magic mushrooms". New York Post. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  14. Jaeger, Kyle (July 15, 2020). "GOP Congressman Withdraws Amendment To Block D.C. Psychedelics Decriminalization". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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