California Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative (2018)

California Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative
Election date November 6, 2018
Topic Drug crime policy and Law enforcement
Status Not on the ballot
Type State statute	Origin Citizens
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The California Psilocybin Mushroom Decriminalization Initiative (#17-0024) did not qualify to appear on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 6, 2018.

The measure would have decriminalized the use, possession, cultivation, sale, and transportation of psilocybin for persons 21 years of age or older.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), psilocybin is a "chemical obtained from certain types of fresh or dried mushrooms." The mushrooms containing psilocybin are also known as magic mushrooms, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or shrooms. As of 2018, psilocybin was considered a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act and the state Controlled Substances Act.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The official ballot title was as follows:

“

Decriminalization of Psilocybin. Initiative Statute.

”

Petition summary

The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets was as follows:

“

Decriminalize use, possession, sale, transport, or cultivation of psilocybin (a hallucinogenic compound) by persons at least 21 years of age.

”

Fiscal impact

Note: The fiscal impact statement for a California ballot initiative authorized for circulation is prepared by the state's legislative analyst and director of finance.

The fiscal impact statement was as follows:

“

Reduced costs, not likely to exceed a few million dollars annually, to state and local governments related to enforcing psilocybin related offenses, handling the related criminal cases in the court system, and incarcerating and supervising certain psilocybin offenders. Potential increase in state and local tax revenues, not likely to exceed a couple million dollars annually, related to the production and sale of psilocybin.

”

Full text

The full text of the measure is available here.

Sponsors

CPLI - California Psilocybin Legalization Initiative led the campaign in support of the measure.

Kevin Saunders, a candidate for mayor of Marina, said the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms is "a natural progression from marijuana legalization."

Saunders said he planned to seek contributions from tech entrepreneurs and celebrities.

Path to the ballot

See also: California signature requirements and Laws governing the initiative process in California

In California, the number of signatures needed to qualify a measure for the ballot is based on the total number of votes cast for the office of governor. For an initiated state statute, petitioners must collect signatures equal to 5 percent of the most recent gubernatorial vote. To get a measure on the 2018 ballot, the number of signatures required was 365,880. In California, initiatives can be circulated for 180 days. Signatures needed to be certified at least 131 days before the 2018 general election, which was around June 28, 2018. As the signature verification process can take several weeks, the California secretary of state issues suggested deadlines for several months before the certification deadline.

The timeline for the initiative was as follows:

• Kevin Saunders and Dimitric Merchant submitted a letter requesting a title and summary on August 25, 2017.
• A title and summary were issued by the California attorney general's office on October 31, 2017.
• On January 23, 2018, the campaign reported collecting at least 25 percent of the required signatures.
• Petitioners needed to collect 365,880 valid signatures by April 30, 2018, in order for it to make the 2018 ballot.
• The campaign CPLI - California Psilocybin Legalization Initiative said the initiative would not make the ballot in 2018.

Related measures

Statewide

• Oregon Measure 109, Psilocybin Mushroom Services Program Initiative (2020)

Local

• Denver, Colorado, Initiated Ordinance 301, Psilocybin Mushroom Initiative (May 2019) a

See also

• 2018 ballot measures
• California 2018 ballot propositions
• California ballot measures

External links

• Petition #17-0024