Business

California Could Decriminalize Drug “Magic Mushrooms” as Early as Next Year

The seeds have been planted for another California law that could loosen restrictions on the use of recreational drugs in the United States.

Published

4 years ago

October 2, 2021

Christy Price

Magic Mushroom/Christopher Ott on Unsplash

The seeds have been planted for another California law that could loosen restrictions on the use of recreational drugs in the United States.

Last week, Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber announced that a new initiative to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms, — also known by its street name “shrooms” — has been cleared by her office. Proponents of the legislation can begin collecting signatures to qualify it as a statewide ballot measure in 2022.

The initiative calls for the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms under California’s penal code. It also calls for the legalization of cultivation, manufacture, processing, distribution, transportation, possession, storage, consumption, and retail sale of the hallucinogenic fungi and chemical compounds it contains – as well as products and extracts derived from it.

Currently, under federal law, mushrooms are classified as a Schedule 1 drug. That designation indicates that a drug has a high potential for abuse, and it has no clear medical benefits.

If the initiative is qualified and approved by California voters, it would also authorize the research and use of psilocybin mushrooms for treatment by qualified healthcare practitioners. The requirement for an “independent professional certifying body” would exist to establish qualifications for healthcare practitioners who provide psilocybin mushroom-assisted therapy and to create protocols for such therapy.

“As Chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee and as a Black man in America, I have come to know what justice is or is not for people that look like me,” Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) told California Black Media.

“The War on Drugs had drastic consequences and a disproportionate impact on people of color, urban communities, and poor people despite studies showing drug usage being equal across various landscapes. That is one of the reasons why I support the decriminalization of certain drugs, including psilocybin. The effects of the war on drugs, however, is not the only reason for my position. Data and science have proven psilocybin’s potential to help people in a myriad of therapeutic applications. We gain nothing by continuing to live in the wreckage of the war on drugs, it is time to move on.”

The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on initiative petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the initiative may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials.

California was a trailblazer in the national movement to legalize marijuana when it first overturned prohibitions against medical uses of cannabis 25 years ago. Marijuana for recreational use is now legal in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

The proponent of the measure, Ryan Munevar, must collect signatures of 623,212 registered voters (5% of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2018 general election) for the measure to become eligible for the November 2022 ballot.

“I’m not an optimistic person at all, I’m more of a mathematician when it comes to these things, we have this down to a science” said Munevar. “But the reception has been phenomenal.”

Kevin Sabet, drug policy adviser to President Obama and author of the book, “Smokescreen: What the Marijuana Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know,” has been an outspoken critic of legalization of marijuana, mushrooms and other drugs.

Sabet warns that profit motives, not public health imperatives, drive political legalization efforts.

“I worry that given the precedent we have set with tobacco, alcohol and now marijuana, we are setting up a new addictive industry that wants to deal with all kinds of drugs that have never been commercialized before, like mushrooms,” he said before Oregon decriminalized “shrooms” in 2019.

In August, Sen. Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco) requested the cancelation of a hearing for a similar bill he authored SB 519. That legislation proposes removing criminal penalties for using and sharing of psilocybin, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline, LSD, ketamine and MDMA for people over age 21.

Munevar has 180 days to circulate petitions for the measure, meaning the signatures must be submitted to county elections officials no later than March 15, 2022.

Christy Price

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

1 week ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

2 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC