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Committee advances city ordinance to deprioritize certain natural psychedelics, removes proposed advisory commission
Summary
The committee referred to full council an amended ordinance that deprioritizes enforcement of some natural psychedelics; sponsors and advocates agreed to remove language creating a Portland Psychedelic Advisory Commission to avoid delaying passage and reduce complexity.
Advocates from the Portland Psychedelic Society and ordinance sponsors presented a proposal to add a municipal code chapter deprioritizing enforcement of certain natural psychedelics and to create a Portland Psychedelic Advisory Commission to provide expert guidance.
Courtney Moran and Max Kellman, representing proponents, emphasized evidence-based harm-reduction and the rapid pace of research in psychedelic-assisted interventions. Councilor Kunal moved an amendment that removed the directive to create the advisory commission and struck Exhibit B; proponents said they were willing to proceed with the deprioritization ordinance without the commission to avoid delaying the core change.
Supporters said the ordinance clarifies law-enforcement priorities so that activities with "little or no measurable negative impact on the health, safety, and welfare of the public" are treated as low priority, while opponents cautioned the city may not be the best jurisdiction to host public-health advisory work and raised questions about implementation and enforceability. After debate, the committee voted 4–1 to refer the amended ordinance to full council with a recommendation to pass.
