On March 22, Hazel Park City Council, voted by a unanimous decision to decriminalize use of psilocybin mushrooms and other entheogenic plants across the city. Hazel Park becomes the third city in Michigan State to take such a move.
This development means that possession, cultivation, distribution and purchase of entheogenic plants will attract the lowest priority from the city’s law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the decision also stops the use of city funds or resources to investigate, arrest, or prosecute someone for allegedly violating state or federal laws banning the use of entheogenic plants.
This resolution was introduced by councilmember Luke Londo who is seeking to help normalize these natural treatments and fight against stigma.
“We need to eliminate the stigma around entheogenic plants and acknowledge them for what they are legitimate medicinal and therapeutic substances that have improved countless lives. As a proponent and occasional consumer, it’s critical that we normalize these natural treatments that allow people to overcome addiction, improve their mental health and embrace their religion and spirituality,” said Londo.
According to the resolution, entheogenic plants are defined as ‘plants, fungi, and natural materials that can benefit psychological and physical wellness, support and enhance religious and spiritual practices, and can reestablish human’s inalienable and direct relationship to nature’.
The entheogenic plants include; ayahuasca, mescaline, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), peyote and psychedelic mushrooms.
