Psilocybin tea, wind chimes, and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene, Oregon, to trip on magic mushrooms. For about six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity, and a oneness with the universe. Epic Healing Eugene, Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center, opened in June, marking the state’s groundbreaking move in offering the mind-altering drug to the public, as reported by the AP. The center currently has a waitlist of over 3,000 names, including individuals with depression, PTSD, or end-of-life anxiety. No prescription or referral is required, but advocates hope that Oregon’s legalization will ignite a revolution in mental health care.
Last year, Colorado voters passed a measure allowing regulated use of magic mushrooms starting in 2024. Additionally, California’s Legislature approved a measure this month that permits possession and use of certain plant- and mushroom-based psychedelics, including psilocybin and mescaline. Health officials in California are planning to develop guidelines for therapeutic use. Angela Allbee, the manager of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section, responsible for regulating the state’s industry, stated in an interview that the agency has received “hundreds of thousands of inquiries from all over the world.” Allbee added, “So far, what we’re hearing is that clients have had positive experiences.”
Although psilocybin remains illegal in most parts of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated it a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018. This summer, the FDA released draft guidance for researchers designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs. Researchers believe that psilocybin alters the brain’s organization, enabling users to adopt new attitudes and overcome mental health issues. However, the Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association opposed Oregon’s 2020 ballot measure legalizing psilocybin, arguing that it is “unsafe and makes misleading promises to those Oregonians who are struggling with mental illness.”
Allbee emphasized the historical use of psychedelic mushrooms in tribal spiritual and healing practices, spanning thousands of years. The agency’s primary focus is safety. Customers must first have a preparation session with a licensed facilitator who remains present as they experience the drug. The facilitator has the authority to deny access to individuals with active psychosis or thoughts of harming others. Clients are not allowed to purchase mushrooms for personal use and must remain at the service center until the effects of the drug have worn off. In addition to approving psilocybin, Oregon voters in 2020 decriminalized the possession of hard drugs, solidifying the state’s reputation as a leader in drug law reform. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize marijuana possession and one of the pioneers in legalizing recreational use. (Nationwide, there is a noticeable increase in young people experimenting with psychedelic mushrooms.)
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