District of Columbia residents have approved the ballot initiative 81 that designates prosecution of using magic mushrooms or other psychedelics as a low priority.
Of all the voters, 76.28 percent voted yes for the initiative, while 23.72 percent rejected it.
The legislation does not decriminalize the possession or use of magic mushrooms and organic psychedelic plants, but it reduces the priority of police enforcement of them. They are categorized as Schedule 1 drugs.
The DC Council will review the initiative, which will be followed by a Congress review.
Initiative 81 is officially known as the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020.
“Initiative 81 would make a small change: shifting enforcement of laws against natural plant medicines to be among the lowest law enforcement priorities,” the Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC says.
“This change would help thousands of D.C. residents suffering from anxiety, PTSD, addiction, or depression who currently fear arrest or prosecution for pursuing healing through natural, entheogenic substances. The initiative has the support of prominent medical professionals, police officers, and D.C. residents,” it adds.