The city of Denver – a leader in the movement to legalize recreational marijuana – could achieve a new first, as residents prepare to vote Tuesday on a public referendum that would decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms have been banned by the federal government since 1970 due to their hallucinogenic effects, which have long been used by some cultures for religious purposes, according to The Washington Post.
The public referendum to 'Decriminalize Denver' is a first in the U.S., though a similar idea was proposed in California last year but failed to get enough support to make it on the ballot. Supporters argue the substance has many benefits, particularly for people suffering from depression and other mental health issues.
If approved, the law would instruct law enforcement to consider possession of the mushrooms 'the lowest law enforcement priority in the City and County of Denver,' while still maintaining the drug's illegal status.
This file photo shows a cluster of psilocybin mushrooms, which have hallucinogenic affects when consumed by humans
Mushrooms would not be available for purchase in Denver's many marijuana dispensaries, and dealers would still be facing felony charges if they were caught selling the drugs.
Psilocybin mushrooms, like marijuana, are classified as a Schedule I drug at the federal level, meaning there is 'no currently accepted medical use and high potential for abuse.'
That, coupled with users' descriptions of vivid, often beautiful and disorienting eight-hour hallucinations, could be an obstacle for supporters of the Denver Psilocybin Initiative.
Mushrooms are what saved my life, from a lifetime of major depression. Using psilocybin ... brought me back from the depths of despair. -Kevin Matthews, Denver Psilocybin Initiative
However, many argue that the substance has the potential to help with issues including: addiction, depression, chronic pain, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to The Post.
The Food and Drug Administration has even granted 'breakthrough therapy' status to the substance for the treatment of depression.
Psilocybin occurs naturally in some fungi and is not addictive. It is not possible to overdose on the drug, and research has indicated that it does not have long-term side effects.
Kevin Matthews, the campaign manager for the initiative,
