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County sets public hearing on psychedelic mushroom ban By Vickie Aldous Updated: Jul 13, 2022 11:31 AM A A Jackson County voters may be able to decide in November whether to ban psychedelic mushrooms in unincorporated parts of the county. [Associated Press / file photo] Public can weigh in July 27 Jackson County commissioners have scheduled a public hearing about a proposed ban on growing and administering psychedelic mushrooms in unincorporated parts of the county. The hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. After the hearing, commissioners could decide whether to put the proposed ban before county voters for the Nov. 8 election. In 2020, Oregon voters, including a narrow majority in Jackson County, approved a measure to legalize psilocybin mushrooms — a type of psychedelic mushroom. The state is in the middle of making rules to govern the new industry. Growing and using psilocybin mushrooms becomes legal at the start of next year. The mushrooms won’t be sold directly to the public. Instead, people must use them in a supervised setting with a licensed mental health care provider. Advocates of psilocybin therapy say it can help with depression, anxiety, end-of-life fears, addiction and post traumatic stress disorder. They believe the new industry will create jobs and new business opportunities, including therapy clinics and retreat centers devoted to treatment. Critics say it will attract criminals and open the door for the black market growing and selling of psychedelic mushrooms. They say law enforcement is already overwhelmed after Oregon voters legalized growing and selling marijuana and decriminalized possessing user amounts of drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. Oregon is the first state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use. Josephine County may put a ban on psilocybin mushroom growing before its voters, along with a separate ban on administering psilocybin — giving voters more choice about what aspect of the industry to block. A majority of Josephine County voters voted against legalization of psilocybin mushrooms. Oregon cities that want to ban psilocybin operations within their boundaries must refer the issue to their voters. Reach Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.