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Medford eyes magic mushroom ban By Damian Mann Jul 19, 2022 01:00 PM A A Medford City Council will discuss Thursday whether to ask local voters to permanently ban psilocybin manufacturing and service centers Medford, Central Point, Phoenix, Ashland and Jackson County are all in the process of deciding whether to ask local voters to either ban or pause the production or sale of psilocybin mushrooms. [123rf.com] Medford might join a growing local movement to ban “magic mushroom” therapy centers in Jackson County. Medford City Council Thursday will consider a resolution to place a measure on the Nov. 8 ballot to permanently ban psilocybin manufacturing and service centers. The public can weigh in on the resolution at the 6 p.m. meeting in City Hall, 411 W. Eighth St. Instead of a permanent ban, another option the council will consider is seeking a two-year ban on psilocybin while the Oregon Health Authority works out rules regarding how the program will be administered. Some draft rules have been spelled out, particularly regarding training and extraction techniques, but many of the rules needed for cities to effectively administer the program haven’t been worked out. Because of the lack of certainty over Oregon Health Authority rule-making, the Medford City Attorney’s office also proposed the two-year opt-out. “There are a lot of significant unknowns,” said City Attorney Eric Mitton. “The bulk of the Oregon Health Authority rule-making has not yet taken place, including most of the rules related to time-place-manner regulation of service centers and manufacturing facilities.” He said the health authority’s rule-making process is expected to conclude sometime in September, which is too close to the November election to qualify the measure for the ballot. “A two-year opt out is a wait-and-see provision,” he said. In November 2020, Oregon voters approved Ballot Measure 109, the Oregon Psilocybin Service Act, which allows for manufacture, delivery and administration of psilocybin at licensed facilities. Oregon is the first state to legalize psilocybin mushrooms for therapeutic use. Supporters of magic mushroom therapy say it can be used to treat depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. The psilocybin law will allow anyone 21 or older to seek treatment from a licensed therapy center. Unlike cannabis, psilocybin cannot be used at home or recreationally. OHA will begin processing applications for psilocybin licenses Jan. 2, 2023. The Oregon law allows the use of one of potentially hundreds of mushrooms that have psychoactive qualities. Psilocybe cubensis is one of the most popular types of magic mushroom. Because of potential health concerns, the new law doesn’t allow cultivating the mushrooms in wood or with dung. Measure 109 allows local governments to seek ballot measures that ask their residents to opt out of allowing psilocybin manufacture and service centers. Jackson County commissioners have scheduled a hearing on a psilocybin referral for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, in the Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium, 10 S. Oakdale Ave., Medford. After the hearing, the commissioners could decide whether to put the proposed ban before county voters for the Nov. 8 election. Central Point will have a measure on the November ballot asking its voters whether they want to ban psilocybin. Phoenix City Council and Ashland City Council also had psilocybin measures on their agendas this week. In 2020, Jackson County voters approved Measure 109 with 62,692 “yes” votes and 59,775 “no” votes. The number of undervotes, or those who didn’t vote on the measure, was 5,361. Josephine County is considering putting a ban on psilocybin mushroom growing before its voters, along with a separate ban on administering psilocybin. A majority of Josephine County voters voted against legalization of psilocybin mushrooms in 2020. Many local cities and counties are wary of the new law, particularly because of law enforcement issues surrounding illegal cannabis operations. Medford has had an uneasy relationship with cannabis over the years, initially banning stores. Medford voters approved a measure that banned backyard grow sites. Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].