Seattle council has unanimously voted to pass a resolution to decriminalise entheogenic substances.
Resolution 32021, introduced by Seattle council member Andrew Lewis, decriminalises “entheogen-related activities”, declaring that the investigation, arrest, and prosecution of those involved with such activities should be among law enforcement’s lowest priorities.
Citing the medical benefits of the substances for conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the council expressed full support for passing the resolution, joining Seattle with the likes of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Washington, Oakland and Oregon in decriminalising entheogenic substances.
The legislation text states: “…it is the Council’s intent to advance lesgilsation establishing entheogen-related activities, entheogen-related activities, including but not limited to the cultivation of entheogens for use in religious, spiritual, healing, or personal growth practices and the sharing of entheogens with co-practitioners without financial or other consideration, among the City’s lowest enforcement priorities.”
Speaking on the resolution, Lewis stated: “It is a long overdue conversation to decriminalise these non-addictive natural substances.
“Our law enforcement officials certainly have more important things to do than arrest people for possession of entheogens, and this resolution affirms that.
“A community conversation intended to reconcile government policy with emerging medical research regarding potential benefits of psychedelics is already well-underway. In a medically-appropriate and supervised environment, people who have experienced severe trauma could benefit from these substances. We need to join the national conversation.”
The resolution is not legally binding, however. Council member Kshama Sawant highlighted that decriminalisation would need an ordinance to be legally binding, The Stranger reports, noting that her office delivered a bill in June that would make that happen, which was ignored 23 times by the Public Safety Committee Chair.
