Council refers psilocybin ban—including service centers and manufacturing—to November ballot in 6–1 vote

The Philomath City Council voted 6–1 on July 14 to refer an ordinance establishing a ban on psilocybin product manufacturing and psilocybin service centers to the November 2025 ballot (Resolution 25-17).

Staff explained that the referral requires a legally neutral ballot caption and summary; Ashley, the city attorney’s reviewer, said the draft caption, question and summary "meet the word limit, and they do appear to be neutral." Councilors and staff reviewed the legal mechanics: if the referendum language is challenged, the matter could proceed to circuit court to determine neutrality.

Councilor Salsa moved to adopt Resolution 25-17 to refer the ordinance to the ballot. Councilor Andrade said he would vote no on principle and explained, "my no vote will be because I don't believe it's our place to refer the question of a ban to voters when the voters previously agreed to allow it both at a state and city level." After discussion, the council recorded the vote as 6 in favor and 1 opposed; the referral will appear on the November 2025 ballot and the neutral caption will be submitted to the county elections office.

Next steps: county elections office will receive the caption; there is a statutory period for legal challenges to the caption/question. If no legal challenge succeeds, the question will be printed in voters’ pamphlets and on ballots for the November election.