Local Michigan Lawmakers Reject Psychedelics Decriminalization Over Concerns About Possible Legal Liabilities
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The East Lansing, Michigan City Council narrowly rejected a resolution to effectively decriminalize psychedelics in the jurisdiction on Tuesday, with the mayor and city attorney voicing concerns about possible legal ramifications of the reform proposal. Local lawmakers voted 3-2 to defeat the measure, which would have made prosecutions of people over growing, possessing and distributing entheogenic substances like psilocybin and ayahuasca among the city’s lowest law enforcement priorities. The whereas section of the resolution stated that psychedelic plants and fungi “can benefit psychological and physical wellness, support and enhance religious and spiritual practices, and reestablish humans’ relationship to nature.” They can also “catalyze profound experiences of personal and spiritual growth, have been shown by scientific and clinical studies and traditional practices to be beneficial to the health and well-being of individuals and communities in addressing” certain mental health conditions, it continued. “Therefore, be it resolved, that the City Council of the City of East Lansing declare that it shall be a policy of the City of East Lansing that the investigation and arrest of persons for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, or possessing Entheogenic Plants as defined herein and including the aforementioned compounds thereof, shall be the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of East Lansing.” Mayor Ron Bacon said before the vote that he felt the resolution was “well-structured.” However, he said that it “ends up being very performative in a way” because it does not change overarching state laws that would continue to criminalize psychedelics.

The mayor agreed that testimonials on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics are “powerful and real,” but he sided with the city attorney with respect to his concerns about the selective enforcement approach prescribed under the resolution. “I see a great deal of jeopardy in this and…

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Source : Local Michigan Lawmakers Reject Psychedelics Decriminalization Over Concerns About Possible Legal Liabilities

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