This November, voters in five states will decide whether to make marijuana (recreational, medicinal, or both) legal—a process that has become fairly familiar in recent years. But other voters will be considering three more innovative ballot initiatives—involving psychedelic drugs.
Oregon residents will vote on Measures 109 and 110. District of Columbia voters will consider Initiative 81. Each measure takes a different approach and has strengths and weaknesses. But voters should approve them because their benefits outweigh the risks.
Psychedelics are a diverse group of substances. Many occur naturally in plants, animals, and fungi. Some have been used by indigenous cultures for millennia. Others were synthesized in 20th century pharmaceutical labs. They share an ability to alter human perception and cognition—shifting how people see the world, themselves, and those around them. This quality makes them useful for treating mental illness, which is often characterized by inflexible thought patterns.
Among the psychedelics, psilocybin is likely the safest. One literature review ranked it the least addictive and lethal drug of 20 substances studied. Instead of causing dependence, research increasingly suggests it may help people overcome addictions, depression, and anxiety disorders. The safety of other psychedelics is less well defined. For instance, a West African shrub called iboga is touted for its potential to curb addictions. However, concerns have been raised regarding its safety. That does not mean ibogaine should never be used. Instead, it means the risk-benefit analysis is different for ibogaine versus psilocybin.