Supporters urge decriminalization of entheogens in Jackson; council members voice interest in study

Several speakers asked the Jackson City Council at its April 15 meeting to consider a local initiative to decriminalize entheogens — plant‑ and fungi‑based psychedelics, commonly described as psilocybin or “magic mushrooms” — while others warned of potential harms.

Justine Melville, who identified her address as 739 North State Street, said entheogenic medicines treat mental‑health conditions and “are generally safe for the user. They are not addictive.” She asked the council to consider a local decriminalization initiative that would make enforcement of cultivation or possession a lower policing priority and to promote education and safety measures rather than criminal penalties.

Kate Brown, who said she watched a prior council meeting online, reinforced that the group’s request is for decriminalization rather than legalization: “We are not asking for legalization,” Brown told the council. She described decriminalization as making enforcement of cultivation and possession the city’s lowest police priority and said the group’s proposed language is posted online.

Opponents raised safety concerns. Jan Torga, a neighborhood resident, warned of possible negative health effects and said such substances are “determined to lack safety even under medical supervision” in his view. He urged council members to reject efforts to decriminalize psilocybin.

Council reaction and next steps

Several council members said they have heard the request and indicated they would like more information before taking action. Council member For Gray (first name not specified on the public record) said he would like to see the item placed on an agenda “soon” and encouraged debate. Council member Gunn said she also supports placing the issue on a future agenda for formal consideration and said the council should hear input from the police department about any enforcement concerns. Mayor Daniel J. Mahoney and other members emphasized that the group had provided written materials and that the item could be scheduled for future discussion.

The speakers directing the council to the proposed language said a model resolution and full text are available online; one speaker referred to a copy at decriminalize.org/jackson.

Why it matters: Local decriminalization measures do not legalize a substance under state or federal law, but they can change local enforcement priorities and prompt council‑level policy debates on public health, public safety and harm‑reduction approaches. The council did not vote on a resolution at the April 15 meeting; supporters asked the council to formally place the measure on a future agenda.

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Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are listed in the article speaker roster.