Explain: Could magic mushrooms be decriminalized in Spokane?

The decriminalization of Spokane is a movement to locally end criminal penalties for psilocybin mushrooms. It is Spokane’s version of the broader national push to simplify the use of psychedelics.

Several cities have already decriminalized. Recently, Oregon voters went a step further and made psilocybin completely legal for therapeutic use.

What exactly is the proposal here in Spokane?

This would make enforcing psilocybin mushroom laws the lowest possible priority for city police. It would also prohibit city resources from being used to punish people for these crimes. This means that the police are generally instructed not to punish, have, grow or transfer small amounts of the mushrooms as long as the people involved are over 21 years old.

It would still be technically illegal, but the local police officers and courts are not allowed to use their time and money to enforce mushroom laws. There would be an exception, however.

The proposal would also make it a civil offense, like a traffic ticket to use mushrooms in public. All of this would only apply within the city limits.

There are still many steps that supporters need to take. You have already taken the first step and submitted the proposal to the city. Now a city official will decide whether the language meets certain legal requirements for voting. If they agree, the supporters have to collect a few thousand signatures. If they succeed, the measure will be put on the city ballot. Then it takes a majority of voters to approve it before it becomes law.

Right now, all personal drug possession in Washington is decriminalized. The Washington State Supreme Court recently overturned the law that made property a crime in that state, and that law has not yet been replaced. However, that could change.