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Residents press council to decriminalize entheogenic plants; supporters and opponents speak
Summary
Multiple residents urged Jackson City Council to decriminalize entheogenic plants, citing historical, cultural and therapeutic uses; supporters said the city attorney reviewed a proposed resolution, while at least one resident opposed the proposal and criticized DEI/audit spending.
During the citizen comment period on July 22, several residents urged the council to move forward with an ordinance to decriminalize entheogenic plants, and others opposed the idea.
"This is a trichocereus cultivar... I bought this at the Home Depot here in Jackson," said Kate Brown as she displayed a San Pedro cactus and argued the city should deprioritize enforcement and support access, education and compassion rather than criminalization.
Roger Mofer, who identified himself as a veteran, told councilors that five other Michigan cities had passed similar measures and that "City attorney Matthew Hagerty has reviewed the proposed resolution," urging Councilmember Dancy to sponsor the ordinance.
Nicholas Thurston offered a counterpoint, saying he believed such reforms were a bad decision and criticizing the broader work of equity audits and DEI practices that had been discussed earlier in the meeting.
Council discussion later in the meeting indicated a council member (vice mayor) intends to bring an ordinance forward for consideration; no vote on an ordinance occurred at this meeting.
