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Commissioners to discuss mushroom rules Wednesday By Vickie Aldous Nov 28, 2022 12:45 AM A A Jackson County commissioners Wednesday will discuss rules for psilocybin businesses in unincorporated parts of the county, such as where to allow the facilities and rules for how they should operate. [123RF.com] Jackson County commissioners will discuss where to allow psychedelic mushroom businesses in rural parts of the county at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. Commissioners held a public hearing last week in which they heard from people for and against the businesses. A decision by the commissioners will affect only unincorporated parts of the county. Jackson County planning staff previously recommended allowing psychedelic mushroom businesses only in general commercial zones, typically found in business corridors near Interstate 5 and Highway 62. But the Jackson County Planning Commission has recommended a more lenient approach of allowing the businesses in a wide range of zones. Local and international businesses hope to create psychedelic mushroom retreat centers at places like the rural Buckhorn Springs Resort east of Ashland. They say people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, end-of-life distress and other issues will have the best experience if they take mushrooms in natural settings. Research shows psychedelic mushrooms can help some people with those issues. Last week during the public hearing, county commissioners heard from Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, which believes state law restricts where mushroom businesses can locate. The state agency believes businesses that give mushrooms to customers to ingest can’t be stand-alone businesses in exclusive farm use zones or forest zones. State law has long restricted certain types of development on those lands to protect agricultural and timber lands, according to Hillary Foote, a farm and forest lands specialist with the agency. There is an exception that a mushroom service center could be allowed as a commercial activity in conjunction with a farm use. For example, wineries are allowed on land with vineyards, Foote said. Businesses that administer mushrooms to customers are known as psilocybin service centers. Psilocybin is the psychedelic ingredient in certain species of mushrooms. Another side to the psychedelic mushroom business is the growing of the fungi. The state plans to license mushroom growers, service centers and facilitators. Facilitators will guide and counsel customers through the psychedelic experience. Some service centers hope to also grow mushrooms on site. The county commissioners’ decision about where to allow mushroom businesses comes with high stakes. Some businesses already have invested large sums of money in hopes of launching rural retreat centers. The international Synthesis Institute bought Buckhorn Springs Resort for millions of dollars. Mike Arnold, a Springfield lawyer and the president of Silo Wellness, is threatening to sue the county if he can’t have a mushroom retreat center at the 960-acre New Frontier Ranch east of Ashland. He didn’t buy the land but said he has a letter of intent with the owner to use the ranch as a retreat center. Some rural residents fear retreat centers, as well as black market growing and selling of psychedelic mushrooms, could damage their quality of life and lead to crime. They point to the proliferation of illegal marijuana and hemp grows and associated crime after Oregon legalized marijuana and Congress legalized hemp, marijuana’s nonintoxicating lookalike cousin. Licensed psychedelic mushroom growers, service centers and facilitators can begin operating in early 2023. Oregon voters legalized psilocybin-containing mushrooms with a 2020 vote, but Oregon Health Authority has until December this year to finalize state rules. Cities and counties can adopt additional rules. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.