In a development that surprised nobody, The People's Republic of Ann Arbor has effectively decriminalized plant-based hallucinogens. The only surprising thing is that they were beaten to the punch by Denver in this regard. "Decriminalize" is this case means "authorities won’t investigate and arrest anyone for planting, cultivating, buying, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with or possessing 'entheogenic plants' or plant compounds." Conspicuous by its absence in that list is "selling".
This is the natural follow up to the legalization of Marijuana that has been slowly sweeping the country of which Ann Arbor was in the forefront. For years Ann Arbor had a famed $5 pot law. Since 1971 possession of marijuana (in small amounts) was subject to a $5 fine. Ann Arbor was (is) also home to the Hash Bash -- a big rally in support of legalization of weed -- since 1972. Ann Arbor District Library has a good quick summary of the local weed lore. Naturally, once legality came, Ann Arbor had five dispensaries up and running within days and folks coming into town from far and wide.
And now we've started down a similar path with hallucinogens. Which is fine; recent research has demonstrated some solid medical use for hallucinogens including as a treatment for depression, and anyway, if you want to kick back in the evening and chase the white rabbit down the hole, who am I to gainsay you?
I am actually of the opinion that most drugs should be decriminalized. Opiates are illegal and they have taken over entire communities, so what exactly do we think we are stopping. I would even be OK with cocaine being legal (although I am less sure about its derivatives and various amphetamines). People who want to mess themselves up will find a way, even if it's sniffing glue or inhaling nitrous oxide. Use does sometimes lead to bad behavior, but illegality creates a lot more bad behavior than it prevents. I understand that is not a new idea and that there are probably many good counter arguments.
In any event, I'm glad no one is getting tossed in jail for going on a long strange trip. Although I don't know that anyone was. I have never heard of a SWAT team called in based on a tip that someone was harboring magic mushrooms.
All this left me with two questions:
- Will there even be a Hash Bash this year? Answer: It's virtual. With guest speakers including the Governor and Attorney General. When the mainstream gets weird, the weird go mainstream. Although there is someone who plans on arranging a live protest, given legalization there really is not much to protest. What was that about history repeating itself as farce? (Follow up: After I wrote this, the live Hash Bash actually occurred.)
- If possession and usage of hallucinogens is decriminalized, but not their sale, how do you get them? At least one person is selling them anyway. That's risky. A more clever strategy comes from Maine, where pot is decriminalized (but not legalized) similar to hallucinogens in Ann Arbor. You just pay someone to find your "lost" drugs
