Are Psychedelics Legal in California? California is on the move to decriminalize many psychedelic substances, including magic mushrooms, peyote, San Pedro, ayahuasca, and others.
SB519 would allow the “sharing” and use of many natural psychedelics. This law won’t allow for the commercial sale of these substances, however.
Here, we’ll dive into more detail about the laws and regulations for magic mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and more in the state of California.
Summary: The State of Psychedelics in California
- ✅ California will vote to decriminalize psychedelics in 2022 (SB519).
- ✅ Natural psychedelics (including magic mushrooms) decriminalized in Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Arcata (most recent).
- ✅ Cannabis legal for both recreational & medical use in California.
- ✅ Delta 8 and delta 10 THC are also legal in California.
Are Magic Mushrooms Legal in California?
Magic mushrooms are currently illegal in California.
However, Senate Bill 519 seeks to change this by decriminalizing the possession, sharing, and non-commercial exchange of certain psychedelics for those 21 and older. Magic mushrooms are included on this bill.
Some California municipalities have already moved to decriminalize magic mushrooms and other natural psychedelics — including Oakland, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz.
Magic mushroom spores are already legal to buy and sell throughout the state of California because they don’t contain any of the restricted substances — psilocybin and psilocin. However, magic mushroom cultivation remains illegal in the state.
Related: Where are magic mushrooms legal?WA MT ND MN SD WY ID OR NV CA AZ NM PR GUAK CO KS OK TX LA AR MO IA WI MI IL IN OH KY TN MS AL GA FL SC NC WV VA PA NY VT NH RICT MA NJ DE MD ME UT NE DC HI
Do Magic Mushrooms Grow Wild in California?
California has an excellent climate for many species of psilocybin mushrooms to grow. You can find the most mushrooms in coastal range areas to the Sierra Nevada Mountain forests. The climate needs to be humid for mushrooms to grow, so don’t expect to find any in the drier desert regions of California.
The most common species in this state are Psilocybe cyanescens and Psilocybe cambodginiensis.
Harvesting magic mushrooms from the wild for personal use is currently illegal but would become decriminalized if SB519 is passed.
It will remain illegal to harvest any species of magic mushrooms from national and state parks or other protected areas.
What Are the Medicinal Uses of Shrooms?
Many studies have shown that psilocybin has the potential to treat symptoms of depression that’s been otherwise unresponsive in patients.
Psilocybin has been shown to help alleviate the underlying cause of post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and may alleviate symptoms of existential anxiety in terminally ill patients.
Sub-perceptual doses of magic mushrooms (microdoses) have also been shown to help control and limit symptoms of cluster headaches.
Suggested Readings: Can Psilocibyn and Other Psychedelics Improve Problem-Solving Skills & Creativity?
Is LSD Legal in California?
In California, it’s illegal to use, sell, manufacture, transport, or possess LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide).
According to California Health and Safety Code 11350, the penalties for minor possession are stiff. You can be sentenced to up to one year in jail and fined up to $1,000.
On the other hand, the penalties for more significant possessions are worse. They have higher sentences of 16 months to three years in jail and fines of up to $20,000.
Unfortunately, many people are put in jail every year for the possession of LSD in California.
Is MDMA Legal in California?
MDMA (ecstasy) is an illegal substance in California. Therefore, possession, sale, and manufacture of this substance have serious consequences.
According to Health and Safety Code 11377, the penalties for possessing small amounts of this substance are up to one year in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.
As of 2018, there is no permitted medical use of the substance. However, researchers have returned to the possibility of using ecstasy in the therapeutic setting, mainly to help people who have post-traumatic stress disorder.
The FDA is currently in the process of approving MDMA for use in a clinical setting. It’s unlikely we’ll see the legalization or decriminalization of MDMA for personal consumption in the near future.
Is Ketamine Legal in California?
Ketamine is currently legal for therapeutic use in the state of California but remains illegal for recreational use.
You can already find ketamine clinics in all major cities in California.
Ketamine-assisted therapy focuses primarily on depression and can also help with many types of disorders. These include obsessive-compulsive, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorders, among others.
What’s The Difference Between Legalization & Decriminalization
It’s very common to get confused between these two closely related terms: legalization and decriminalization.
Legalization means removing all penalties for a specific activity that was previously prohibited. There may still be restrictions on the sale or use of legalized substances.
For example, cannabis was recently legalized in the state, but there are heavy restrictions imposed for both the seller and the buyer.
Are Psychedelics Legal in California?
Decriminalization is different because it seeks to remove the penalties for possessing a given substance but may still bring fines and confiscation. Decriminalized substances are still technically illegal, and vendors can’t legally sell these substances.
Key Takeaways: What’s The Future of Psychedelics in California?
California is very close to decriminalizing psychedelics under SB519. The state has already legalized the sale of cannabis for non-medical use and will likely continue this trend of reducing penalties for other non-addictive drugs as well.
Senator Scott Wiener (who introduced SB5919) believes drug use isn’t a criminal issue; rather, it’s a health issue. He also accepts the proven health benefits of these substances.
With that said, it’s unlikely California will move to legalize and tax the sale of psychedelic drugs anytime in the near future.