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Why Support this Petition?

There are a lot of good reasons to sign this petition. Here are a few:

Improve Mental Health

Numerous robust studies have shown that psilocybin therapy is beneficial in reducing treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other mental health disorders. It is more effective than synthetic pharmaceuticals by a large margin. Psilocybin has also shown effectiveness in easing fear and anxiety in people with terminal cancer. For instance, a groundbreaking study performed by John Hopkins Medicine found that psilocybin reported better moods and greater mental health after participating in a single clinical dose.

Support Spiritual Practice

The use of mushrooms has been documented in 15 indigenous groups in America and various religious communities in Utah. This petition supports those groups who wish to use psilocybin safely, sincerely, and as a necessary part of their religion. The use of psilocybin does not contradict other Utah cultures and is protected by the first amendment as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This petition is to advocate Utah law to protect the religious rights of Utahns.

Reduces Criminality

Psilocybin is a natural, non-toxic substance. Despite this, it is currently a Schedule I substance. Scientists have demonstrated it has profound medicinal value and believe serotonergic hallucinogens assist cognitive processes and should not decriminalized. Psychedelics can change perception and mood, help people soften their perspective and outlook, and process events that may otherwise lead to substance abuse, trauma, and criminal behavior.

Safe & Effective

Psilocybin mushrooms are considered one of the least toxic medicines known to man. Recorded cases of death exclusively attributed to psilocybin mushrooms are extremely rare. To put this in perspective, Internationally, there were 30,811 deaths from antidepressants between 2015 and 2020. An academic study concluded: "There are only three known deaths attributed to magic mushroom toxicity that were recorded in the United States. Lethal overdose from eating mushrooms is, therefore, impractical as emesis would likely occur before absorption of toxic levels of the drug." -Journal of Psychopharmacology. 2022;36(8)

Embrace positive change for our future

In February 2022, the Utah legislature passed the Mental Illness Psychotherapy Drug Task Force bill (HB 167). The Utah House, with a vote of 68 to 1, and the Utah Senate by 23 to 1, passed the bill with overwhelming support. The bill created a task force to review studies examining the legalization and use of psychedelics in mental health treatment for Utah. Legalizing and decriminalizing Psilocybin in Utah is now very likely but still needs public support.

The movement to decriminalize psilocybin in the United States began in Denver, Colorado 2019. The cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, California, followed suit and decriminalized psilocybin by 2020. Washington, D.C. followed in late 2020, as did several Massachusetts towns in 2021. Seattle became the largest U.S. city to join the growing list in October 2021. Starting in 2023, Oregon will be the first state to legalize all psychedelics.

Utah is now poised to embrace this healing medicine and has the opportunity to lead the nation in its research and clinical implementation. Signing the petition will give lawmakers the public support they need to pass the bill in the next legislative session.