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County sends magic mushroom ban to voters By Damian Mann Updated: Jul 29, 2022 12:12 PM A A Oregon voters overwhelmingly approved therapeutic use of psilocybin in 2020 Jackson County commissioners voted 3-0 to ask Jackson County voters to ban psilocybin mushrooms in November. [123rf.com] Jackson County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved placing a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot asking voters to ban psilocybin mushrooms despite strong opposition during a public hearing. “I went through a life transformation and a mind transformation thanks to psilocybin, said veteran Scott Hicks of Grants Pass. He said he was “broken in my mind and my spirit” and had tried other therapies through the Veterans Administration. Two dozen people, including other veterans, spoke against putting the measure on the ballot, and two spoke in favor of the proposed ban, pointing out the detrimental effects cannabis legalization has had on the valley. This was the second reading of the ordinance, which now puts the question to voters, who will decide whether psilocybin manufacturers and service centers should be allowed in unincorporated areas of the county. The county ordinance would not affect local cities from allowing psilocybin in their communities. Ashland has already approved psilocybin treatment centers. Psilocybin treatment is allowed in Oregon after voters overwhelmingly approved Measure 109 in 2020. The state will begin processing licenses next year. While the measure passed in Jackson County, Commissioner Rick Dyer said, “If you take the Ashland results out if it, the measure would have failed by 5,500 votes.” He said he didn’t dispute any of the testimony of speakers who spoke in favor of psilocybin treatment. But he said there are potential benefits and potential negative impacts to allowing psilocybin, often referred as “magic mushrooms,” to be used in rural areas. “This is a cash only business,” he said. “There is inherent crime issues in rural areas.” Commissioner Colleen Roberts said she found the testimony impactful, but she said she has concerns about the time, place and manner restrictions that would apply to rural operations. She also noted the vote in Jackson County was pretty close. “The cities will still be able to facilitate this industry,” she said. Commissioner Dave Dotterrer said, “For me the question in front of me is not about the efficacy of this particular product at all. The question is should the citizens of Jackson County have the opportunity to make a decision about the production and distribution of this product.” While the commissioners voiced concern about allowing psilocybin treatment in rural areas, many speakers said a rural setting is the perfect place for treatment and would allow participants to spend several days to help with the healing. Piper Lucas of Bend said treatment facilities in rural areas would allow overnight stays and provide a longer session for those seeking treatment. “There’s a benefit to have access to the outdoors,” she said. Despite concerns about the negative effects of cannabis legalization, Lucas said, “I want to be clear: This is not cannabis.” She said mushroom growing doesn’t have a smell, and neighbors shouldn’t have any idea what is going on. Cameron Meeks, who is on the Oregon Health Authority advisory committee for psilocybin, said psilocybin facilities will be unrecognizable from the outside, and they will not resemble the cannabis operations that have impacted this county. A resident of Portland who grew up in Ashland, Meeks said he expects this county will have 6,000 psilocybin participants a year. That translates into 40 pounds of mushrooms that can be grown in a 2,000-square-foot facility, about the size of an average home. “Licensed mushroom facilities will be sparse,” he said. Drew Snyder, a mental health counselor with a practice in Medford and Ashland, said he found his mental health unraveling after tours of duty. “My wife and kids began to walk on eggshells around me,” he said. “I contemplated suicide often.” He was prescribed a grocery bag full of medications to treat his post-traumatic stress disorder, along with talk therapy. A few years ago, he tried psilocybin even though he said he’d never used an illegal drug in his life. The next day, he said, “My wife said this is the first time in years that she recognized the man she’d married.” Casey Frieder, a doctor who treats patients in both Medford and Ashland, said the COVID pandemic has created an epidemic of anxiety and depression in this county. “Pharmaceuticals are just not that effective,” Frieder said. “There’s nothing that has come along that has the same efficacy as psilocybin.” Central Point resident Susan Rachor said allowing psilocybin throughout the county provides another opportunity for criminals to do business in the community. Rachor cited the mess the county inherited from marijuana legalization. She said her heart goes out to the people who are suffering from depression and other ailments but said there are already many medications to treat those issues. “Magic mushrooms is an absurd name for any kind of medication,” she said. Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].