The Psychedelic Social Club: a regulatory concept for people who use psychedelics?

Abstract

Background: The global drug control landscape is undergoing remarkable change. Many jurisdictions around the world, including jurisdictions in the United States, have decriminalized the possession and use of plant- and fungus-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms (PCM). With ORS 475 A, Oregon has gone a step further by becoming the first US state to legalize and regulate the cultivation, supply, and use of PCM in designated service centers. Methods: This commentary examines recent developments and presents two arguments for an alternative strategy for legalizing PCM. Results: First, a non-profit legal framework for the production, supply, and non-medical use of psilocybin may be more advantageous than a for-profit framework, especially for a naturally occurring mushroom that is typically not frequently used. Second, people who use drugs (PWUD) can demonstrate agency in the self-supply of drugs and in the adoption of responsible use and harm reduction practices. Conclusion: Community or peer-based structures may offer a viable approach to ensuring a controlled supply of PCM and a safe environment for their non-medical use. An outline of a public health-oriented regulatory approach for the non-profit, community-based cultivation, supply, and use of PCM is presented. This framework may provide a regulatory pathway for policymakers to consider.