The Psychedelic Social Club: a regulatory concept for people who use psychedelics?
About the study
This paper delves into the evolving global drug control scenario, spotlighting the decriminalization and regulation trends around plant- and fungus-based psychedelics, notably psilocybin-containing mushrooms in various jurisdictions including Oregon, USA.
The authors argue for a non-profit legal framework for the production, supply, and non-medical use of psilocybin over a for-profit one, emphasizing the infrequent typical use of this naturally occurring mushroom. They highlight the potential of people who use drugs to exhibit agency in self-supply and in adopting responsible use and harm reduction practices.
The study proposes community or peer-based structures as a viable means to control the supply of psilocybin-containing mushrooms and ensure a safe environment for non-medical use. It presents a public health-oriented regulatory framework, focusing on non-profit, community-based cultivation, supply, and use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, suggesting this as a potential regulatory pathway for policymakers.
Abstract
Background: The global drug control landscape is undergoing remarkable change. Many jurisdictions around the world, including jurisdictions in the United States, have decriminalized the possession and use of plant- and fungus-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms (PCM). With ORS 475 A, Oregon has gone a step further by becoming the first US state to legalize and regulate the cultivation, supply, and use of PCM in designated service centers.
Methods: This commentary examines recent developments and presents two arguments for an alternative strategy for legalizing PCM.
Results: First, a non-profit legal framework for the production, supply, and non-medical use of psilocybin may be more advantageous than a for-profit framework, especially for a naturally occurring mushroom that is typically not frequently used. Second, people who use drugs (PWUD) can demonstrate agency in the self-supply of drugs and in the adoption of responsible use and harm reduction practices.
Conclusion: Community or peer-based structures may offer a viable approach to ensuring a controlled supply of PCM and a safe environment for their non-medical use. An outline of a public health-oriented regulatory approach for the non-profit, community-based cultivation, supply, and use of PCM is presented. This framework may provide a regulatory pathway for policymakers to consider.
Photo by cosmicgrooveart on Deviant Art.
