Ann Arbor Decriminalises Psychedelic Plants

The vote decided that the lowest law enforcement priority would be employed in relation to entheogenic plants. This includes the acts of purchasing, growing, transporting and distributing. Additionally, it includes engaging in practices that feature the use of these plants or compounds, ceremonial or spiritual etc.

The full list of plants and compounds decriminalised includes psilocybin mushrooms, peyote, mescaline, ayahuasca and ibogaine. 

Call To End Prosecution

The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office was also called upon by the council to end prosecution of people involved in the use of entheogenic plants and plant compounds. However, any significant violation of federal or state law in relation to these substances, or any use of these plants that poses a threat to public health, safety and welfare can still result in the involvement of city law enforcement. 

Council Convinced By Studies

This result comes after a lobbying campaign by a grassroots group called Decriminalize Nature Ann Arbor (DNA2). The council were Initially reluctant to sponsor the issue. However, many were convinced by the glut of recent studies venerating the therapeutic potential of psychoactive plants. 

Council member Anne Bannister was credited for bringing forward the proposal to colleagues. It was then co-sponsored by fellow council member Jeff Hayner. More council members quickly joined as co-sponsors, and the vote went through 11-0. John Hopkins Medicine recently established a $17 million center for psychedelic research. This was stated by council member Zachary Ackerman as proof of “the tremendous potential of these future medicines”.

Exciting Moment For Progress

This vote marks an exciting moment in which evidence and progress become part of the legal decision process, in contrast to stale and indiscriminate ideas about ‘the war on drugs’. In fact, one of the elements considered within the vote was the potential for psychedelics to treat addiction to opiates. As well as this, the knowledge that psychedelics can be used to treat addiction, PTSD, depression, grief, anxiety, OCD and cluster headaches among other afflictions, is becoming common. 

Profound Experiences of Personal and Spiritual Growth

The council’s resolution stated

 “The use of entheogenic plants, which can catalyze profound experiences of personal and spiritual growth, have been shown by scientific and clinical studies and traditional practices to be beneficial to the health and well-being of individuals and communities in addressing these conditions.”

The council was also emphatic that those who are seeking to heal through psychedelic usage, as ancient societies did, should no longer fear prosecution. 

Ann Arbor becomes the latest American city to decriminalize, following Denver, Oakland and Santa Cruz.