SOMERVILLE, Mass. — The Massachusetts city of Somerville is joining many other similar towns across the U.S.A. that are decriminalizing psychedelic plants and mushrooms. The city council voted unanimously, nine to zero, on the resolution that makes enforcing laws against psychedelics a low priority.
Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen of Ward Three co-sponsored the bill. In remarks to WBZ Radio’s Jim Rojas he says there’s so much more potential for medical benefits and so much waste of city resources fighting it.
“This is an issue where I just think there is such an enormous gulf between where the science is, where the research is on these substances, honestly where I think public opinion is and where our public policy is,” said Ewen-Campen.
Ewen-Campen believes there are therapeutic potentials for so many of these natural compounds.
Under the resolution, the city’s policy states the arrest of people using or possessing psychedelics must be among the lowest law enforcement priority. The city council is also calling on the Middlesex County District Attorney to stop psychedelic prosecutions. The resolution forbids the commercial sale of psychedelics nor the possession or distribution near schools.
Councilor J.T. Scott who also co-sponsored it says the resolution sees to it that no city agency or resources be used in helping enforce laws against the use or possession of psychedelic plants.
