The Psychedelic Social Club: a regulatory concept for people who use psychedelics?

As many jurisdictions decriminalize plant- and fungus-based psychedelics like psilocybin-containing mushrooms, Oregon has become the first U.S. state to legalize and regulate their cultivation, supply, and use in designated service centers. A non-profit legal framework for production, supply, and non-medical use may be more advantageous than a for-profit one, especially for a naturally occurring mushroom that is not frequently used. People who use drugs can demonstrate agency in self-supply and in adopting responsible use and harm reduction practices. Community or peer-based structures may offer a viable approach to ensuring controlled supply and a safe environment for non-medical use.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Background The global drug control landscape is undergoing remarkable change. Many jurisdictions around the world, including jurisdictions in the United States, have decriminalized the possession and use of plant- and fungus-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms (PCM). With ORS 475 A, Oregon has gone a step further by becoming the first US state to legalize and regulate the cultivation, supply, and use of PCM in designated service centers.Methods This commentary examines recent developments and presents two arguments for an alternative strategy for legalizing PCM.Results First, a non-profit legal framework for the production, supply, and non-medical use of psilocybin may be more advantageous than a for-profit framework, especially for a naturally occurring mushroom that is typically not frequently used. Second, people who use drugs (PWUD) can demonstrate agency in the self-supply of drugs and in the adoption of responsible use and harm reduction practices.Conclusion Community or peer-based structures may offer a viable approach to ensuring a controlled supply of PCM and a safe environment for their non-medical use. An outline of a public health-oriented regulatory approach for the non-profit, community-based cultivation, supply, and use of PCM is presented. This framework may provide a regulatory pathway for policymakers to consider.