US EditionKing County Backs Research, Low Enforcement of Psychedelics as Region Rethinks Approach
King County Council voted 6-2 to deprioritize enforcement of personal entheogen use to support mental health research and focus law enforcement on public safety risks.
- On Tuesday, The Metropolitan King County Council voted 6-2 to deprioritize law enforcement regarding personal use of "entheogen-related activities," including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, and mescaline.
- Sponsored by Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, the motion formalizes existing practices by the King County Sheriff's Office and King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which already focus on public safety risks rather than personal substance use.
- Supporters, including Army veteran Jordan Crawley, argued that "too often treatment options available to those struggling with mental health conditions are limited," citing potential benefits for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.
- Voting against the motion, Councilmember Reagan Dunn and Councilmember Claudia Balducci expressed concerns; Dunn warned of overdose risks while Balducci cited "grievous and irreversible psychological harm" from insufficient research.
- King County joins a broader Pacific Northwest trend, as Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Port Townsend have enacted similar policies to encourage research and reduce barriers to alternative mental health treatments.
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20 Articles
Marijuana Moment
Local Officials In Washington Approve Measure To Deprioritize Psychedelics Enforcement
Local officials in King County, Washington have approved a resolution calling on police to make enforcement of laws against possession and personal cultivation of psychedelics among the “lowest” priorities and requesting that they not use funds to arrest or prosecute people for using substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, mescaline and ibogaine. The Metropolitan King County Council on Tuesday voted 6-2 to pass the legislation reques…
King County signals support for psychedelic research and policy shift
The King County Council on Tuesday, Mar. 24 approved a motion supporting continued research into entheogens and affirming longstanding local policies that deprioritize enforcement for adult personal use of the substances.The motion, sponsored by Teresa Mosqueda and co-sponsored by Rod Dembowski, formalizes existing practices by the King County Sheriff’s Office and Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Those policies focus law enforcement on behavior th…
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