Palm Springs group pushes for decriminalization of psychedelic plants and fungi
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A group in Palm Springs is continuing its effort to decriminalize or deprioritize the enforcement of laws involving certain psychedelic plants and fungi.
The Palm Springs Psychedelic Society held an educational event Saturday at the Mizell Center, one year after the organization first introduced the community to the Decriminalize Nature movement.
The group is seeking support for a proposed resolution that would ask the Palm Springs City Council to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi, including substances containing psilocybin.
Organizers say the proposal has been presented to all five Palm Springs City Council members. The resolution would need the support of at least three council members to move forward.
John Ninos, a Palm Springs resident involved with the effort, said the goal of the educational events is to provide information about the potential uses of psychedelics and challenge what he described as longstanding stigma surrounding the substances.
Supporters point to research involving psychedelics and areas including depression, anxiety, addiction, PTSD and end-of-life care. They say greater education could help people better understand the potential benefits and risks.
Scott Rusczky, president of the Coachella Valley Cannabis Alliance Network, also attended Saturday's event. He said education is important when discussing both cannabis and psychedelic substances.
Supporters also emphasized that decriminalization would not mean legalization.
Under a decriminalization approach, possession or use of certain substances could become a lower law enforcement priority, while the substances would remain illegal under state and federal law unless those laws are changed.
The Palm Springs Psychedelic Society says it hopes the city will eventually consider its proposed resolution. If approved, supporters say Palm Springs would become the seventh city in California to adopt a decriminalization policy involving entheogenic plants and fungi and the first in Southern California.
The movement remains controversial, with supporters citing potential therapeutic benefits while critics have raised concerns about safety, misuse and the lack of broad legal authorization for psychedelic substances.
For now, organizers say they plan to continue holding educational events and talking with members of the community as they seek support for the proposal.
