Bay Staters for Natural Medicine

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Bay Staters for Natural Medicine is a Massachusetts-based, grassroots community group that educates people on the safe, spiritual use of psychedelics and the public health consequences of the so-called "war on drugs." The group hosts community events across the Northeastern U.S., including forages for all kinds of mushrooms, classes on growing mushrooms, socials to learn about alternative medicine, breath workshops, and parties. [1] This community organizing grew out of local advocacy efforts to pass measures in cities where its now thousands of volunteers live across the region.

Contents

History

In January 2021, Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, with the support of around fifty local volunteers, achieved its first success in helping the City of Somerville decriminalize possession of all controlled substances, including growing and distribution of psychedelic fungi and plants. [2] The inclusion of decriminalization for all controlled substances was a strong departure from other measures passed around the country: particularly those led by Decriminalize Nature, which at the time opposed broader decriminalization reform [3]

In February 2021, after a similar collaboration between Bay Staters and local groups, the City of Cambridge adopted a similar resolution, led by City Councilor Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler. [4]

In March 2021, after being contacted by members of Bay Staters, Northampton Massachusetts City Councilors Rachel Maiore (Ward 7) and William Dwight (At Large) co-sponsored a similar resolution supporting the decriminalization of the use and possession all of controlled substances, specifically highlighting the benefits psychedelics can have for mental health and addiction challenges. This measure was unanimously approved on April 2, 2021. [5] [6]

In October 2021, the City of Easthampton became the fourth city in Massachusetts to decriminalize psychedelics with the leadership and organizing of Bay Staters for Natural Medicine. [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin</span> Chemical compound found in some species of mushrooms

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi. The most potent are members of the genus Psilocybe, such as P. azurescens, P. semilanceata, and P. cyanescens, but psilocybin has also been isolated from about a dozen other genera. Psilocybin is itself biologically inactive but is quickly converted by the body to psilocin, which has mind-altering effects similar, in some aspects, to those of LSD, mescaline, and DMT. In general, the effects include euphoria, visual and mental hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted sense of time, and perceived spiritual experiences. It can also cause adverse reactions such as nausea and panic attacks.

<i>Psilocybe cubensis</i> Species of fungus

Psilocybe cubensis is a species of psychedelic mushroom whose principal active compounds are psilocybin and psilocin. Commonly called shrooms, magic mushrooms, golden halos, cubes, or gold caps, it belongs to the fungus family Hymenogastraceae and was previously known as Stropharia cubensis. It is the best-known psilocybin mushroom due to its wide distribution and ease of cultivation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin mushroom</span> Mushrooms containing psychoactive indole alkaloids

Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, are a polyphyletic informal group of fungi that contain psilocybin which turns into psilocin upon ingestion. Biological genera containing psilocybin mushrooms include Psilocybe, Panaeolus, Inocybe, Pluteus, Gymnopilus, and Pholiotina. Psilocybin mushrooms have been and continue to be used in indigenous New World cultures in religious, divinatory, or spiritual contexts. Psilocybin mushrooms are also used as recreational drugs. They may be depicted in Stone Age rock art in Africa and Europe, but are most famously represented in the Pre-Columbian sculptures and glyphs seen throughout North, Central and South America.

<i>Psilocybe semilanceata</i> Species of fungus in the family Hymenogastraceae, native to Europe

Psilocybe semilanceata, commonly known as the liberty cap, is a species of fungus which produces the psychoactive compounds psilocybin, psilocin and baeocystin. It is both one of the most widely distributed psilocybin mushrooms in nature, and one of the most potent. The mushrooms have a distinctive conical to bell-shaped cap, up to 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter, with a small nipple-like protrusion on the top. They are yellow to brown, covered with radial grooves when moist, and fade to a lighter color as they mature. Their stipes tend to be slender and long, and the same color or slightly lighter than the cap. The gill attachment to the stipe is adnexed, and they are initially cream-colored before tinting purple to black as the spores mature. The spores are dark purplish-brown in mass, ellipsoid in shape, and measure 10.5–15 by 6.5–8.5 micrometres.

Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) is an international nonprofit organization advocacy and education organization with focus on drug policy, war on drugs, marijuana legalization, psychedelics, juvenile justice and youth rights, drug decriminalization, criminal justice reform. SSDP promotes global youth civic engagement as a tool in reforming drug policy.

A smart shop is a retail establishment that specializes in the sale of psychoactive substances, usually including psychedelics, as well as related literature and paraphernalia. The name derives from the name "smart drugs", a class of drugs and food supplements intended to affect cognitive enhancements which are often sold in smart shops.

<i>Psilocybe tampanensis</i> Psychedelic mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae

Psilocybe tampanensis is a very rare psychedelic mushroom in the family Hymenogastraceae. Originally collected in the wild in a sandy meadow near Tampa, Florida, in 1977, the fungus would not be found in Florida again until 44 years later. The original Florida specimen was cloned, and descendants remain in wide circulation. The fruit bodies (mushrooms) produced by the fungus are yellowish-brown in color with convex to conic caps up to 2.4 cm (0.9 in) in diameter atop a thin stem up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long. Psilocybe tampanensis forms psychoactive truffle-like sclerotia that are known and sold under the nickname "philosopher's stones". The fruit bodies and sclerotia are consumed by some for recreational or entheogenic purposes. In nature, sclerotia are produced by the fungus as a rare form of protection from wildfires and other natural disasters.

<i>O</i>-Acetylpsilocin Chemical compound

O-Acetylpsilocin is a semi-synthetic psychoactive drug that has been suggested by David Nichols to be a potentially useful alternative to psilocybin for pharmacological studies, as they are both believed to be prodrugs of psilocin. However, some users report that O-acetylpsilocin's subjective effects differ from those of psilocybin and psilocin. Additionally, some users prefer 4-AcO-DMT to natural psilocybin mushrooms due to feeling fewer adverse side effects such as nausea and heavy body load, which are more frequently reported in experiences involving natural mushrooms. It is the acetylated form of the psilocybin mushroom alkaloid psilocin and is a lower homolog of 4-AcO-MET, 4-AcO-DET, 4-AcO-MiPT and 4-AcO-DiPT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States</span> Legalization of marijuana in the United States

In the United States, the non-medical use of cannabis is legalized in 21 states and decriminalized in 10 states as of November 2022. Decriminalization refers to a policy of reduced penalties for cannabis offenses, typically involving a civil penalty for possessing small amounts, instead of criminal prosecution or the threat of arrest. In jurisdictions without penalty the policy is referred to as legalization, although the term decriminalization is sometimes used for this purpose as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug liberalization</span> Process of reducing drug prohibition laws

Drug liberalization is a drug policy process of decriminalizing or legalizing the use or sale of prohibited drugs. Variations of drug liberalization include: drug legalization, drug re-legalization and drug decriminalization. Proponents of drug liberalization may favor a regulatory regime for the production, marketing, and distribution of some or all currently illegal drugs in a manner analogous to that for alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug policy of California</span> Overview of the drug policy of the U.S. state of California

Drug policy of California refers to the policy on various classes and kinds of drugs in the U.S. state of California. Cannabis possession has been legalized with the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, passed in November 2016, with recreational sales starting January of the next year. With respect to many controlled substances, terms such as illegal and prohibited do not include their authorized possession or sale as laid out by applicable laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Massachusetts Question 2</span> Ballot measure in Massachusetts

The Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative, also known as Massachusetts Ballot Question 2, was an initiated state statute that replaced prior criminal penalties with new civil penalties on adults possessing an ounce or less of marijuana. The initiative appeared on the November 4, 2008, ballot in Massachusetts.

The U.S. state of Oregon has various policies restricting the production, sale, and use of different substances. In 2006, Oregon's per capita drug use exceeded the national average. The most used substances were marijuana, methamphetamine and illicit painkillers and stimulants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legal status of psilocybin mushrooms</span>

The legal status of unauthorised actions with psilocybin mushrooms varies worldwide. Psilocybin and psilocin are listed as Schedule I drugs under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with a high potential for abuse or drugs that have no recognized medical uses. However, psilocybin mushrooms have had numerous medicinal and religious uses in dozens of cultures throughout history and have a significantly lower potential for abuse than other Schedule I drugs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of cannabis laws in the United States</span> Historical list in chronological order of U.S. cannabis law

The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cannabis in Massachusetts</span> Overview of the use and culture of cannabis in Massachusetts, U.S.

Cannabis in Massachusetts is legal for medical and recreational use. It also relates to the legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. A century after becoming the first U.S. state to criminalize recreational cannabis, Massachusetts voters elected to legalize it in 2016.

This is an overview of the legality of ayahuasca by country. DMT, one of the active ingredients in ayahuasca, is classified as a Schedule I drug under the United Nations 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, meaning that international trade in DMT is supposed to be closely monitored; use of DMT is supposed to be restricted to scientific research and medical use. Natural materials containing DMT, including ayahuasca, are not regulated under the 1971 Psychotropic Convention. The majority of the world's nations classify DMT as a scheduled drug; however, few countries seem to have laws specifically addressing the possession or use of ayahuasca.

Oregon Psilocybin Society is a 501(c)3 Organization founded in 2016 with the direct intention of creating awareness around - and - laying a foundation for the legislation of psilocybin services" -- a sequence of supervised sessions which includes the use of psychedelic psilocybin mushrooms -- available to adults in the U.S. state of Oregon. The founders of the society, Sheri Eckert and Tom Eckert, are the Architects and Chief Petitioners of Measure 109, Introducing an initiative to Oregon state voters for 2020. This legislation will create legal access to psilocybin assisted services to any individual over 21 years of age, upon passing a risk assessment for contraindications. Psilocybin assisted services will be provided on-site at a licensed facility by a licensed facilitator. The service progression would include, at minimum, a preparation session, a psilocybin administration session, and an integration session. All sessions would be conducted by trained facilitators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin therapy</span> Experimental use of psilocybin to treat anxiety & depression

Psilocybin therapy is the use of psilocybin in treating a range of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, addictions, obsessive compulsive disorder, and psychosis. It is one of several forms of psychedelic therapy under study. Psilocybin was popularized as a psychedelic recreational drug in the 1970s and was classified as a Schedule I drug by the DEA. Research on psilocybin as a medical treatment was restricted until the 1990s because of the sociocultural fear of dependence on this drug. As of 2022, psilocybin is the most commonly researched psychedelic due to its safety and low potential for abuse and dependence. Clinical trials are being conducted at universities and there is evidence confirming the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression, PTSD and end of life anxiety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psilocybin decriminalization in the United States</span> Movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States

The movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States began in the late 2010s, with Denver, Colorado becoming the first city to decriminalize psilocybin in May 2019. The cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, California, followed suit and decriminalized psilocybin in June 2019 and January 2020, respectively. Washington, D.C. followed suit in November 2020, as did Somerville, Massachusetts in January 2021, and then neighboring Bay State town Cambridge, near Boston, and Northampton, in western Massachusetts, in February 2021 and March 2021, respectively. Seattle, Washington became the largest U.S. city on the growing list in October 2021.

References

  1. baystatersnm.org
  2. "Massachusetts' Bay Staters: a Grassroots Movement". Truffle Report. 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  3. https://www.lucid.news/decriminalize-nature-growing-pains-local-groups-clash/
  4. "Special Feature On Psychedelic Decriminalization In Mass". Dig Boston. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  5. "Northampton City Council seeks to decriminalize psychedelic drugs, urge police make possession low enforcement priority". Mass Live. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  6. "Northampton, MA Third City to Decriminalize Psychedelics, Other Drugs". Truffle Report. 2021-04-02. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  7. "Bay Staters for Natural Medicine on Easthampton Decrim". Truffle Report. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  8. "Easthampton is the fourth city in Mass. to vote to decriminalize psychedelics". WBUR. 2021-09-29. Retrieved 2021-10-22.