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Election 2022: Measures limiting psilocybin strongly backed

November 2022 Posted in News

By James Day

Measures intending to limit the business of psychedelic mushrooms received strong support from voters in early unofficial returns in both Marion and Linn counties on Tuesday.

Anti-psilocybin measures were on the ballot in unincorporated portions of Marion and Linn as well as the towns of Stayton, Gates, Lyons, Mill City, Aumsville and Sublimity. Voters in all 8 jurisdictions voted to enforce the prohibitions, most of them by wide margins. The yes vote was at about 58% in the two counties, with Sublimity at the highest yes count, more than 80%.

In November 2020 Oregon voters passed Measure 109, which created a program for administering psilocybin products, such as psilocybin-producing mushrooms and fungi, to individuals aged 21 years or older. Before the issue passed by a 55% to 45% margin, the manufacturing and consumption of psilocybin was illegal under both federal law and state law.

Measure 109 also allowed cities and counties to place referendums on local ballots to prohibit or allow psilocybin-product manufacturers or psilocybin service centers in unincorporated areas. Measure 109 prohibited psilocybin service centers within the limits of an incorporated city or town.

Here is a look at the outcome of the psilocybin measures in the region:

Marion County: Measure 24-465, which would prohibit psilocybin manufacturing and locating service centers in unincorporated parts of the county was passing by 58.38% to 41.62%.

Linn County: Measure 22-200, which would prohibit psilocybin manufacturing and locating service centers in unincorporated parts of the county was passing by 58.88% to 41.12% margin.

Aumsville: Measure 24-470, which would prohibit psilocybin-related businesses within the city limits, was passing 66% to34%. Also on the Aumsville ballot were a pair of marijuana-related measures. Measure 24-471, which would allow marijuana-related facilities in the city limits,  was being defeated by a 59.02% to  40.98% margin. Measure 24-472, which would authorize a tax on the retail sales of recreational marijuana, meanwhile, was passing easily by a 73.43% to 26.57% margin.

Gates: Measure 24-497, which would temporarily prohibit the establishment of psilocybin product manufacturers and psilocybin service center operators within the city of Gates jurisdictional boundaries, was passing 75.41% to 24.59%. The prohibition sunsets after two years.

Lyons: Measure 22-197 would prohibit the establishment of psilocybin service centers, the manufacture of psilocybin products and testing within Lyons’ jurisdictional boundaries. It was passing 77.64% to 22.36%.

Mill City: Measure 22-198 would prohibit the establishment of psilocybin service centers, the manufacture of psilocybin products and testing within Mill City’s jurisdictional boundaries. It was passing 64.01% to 35.99%.

Stayton: Measure 24-480 would prohibit the establishment of psilocybin product manufacturers and psilocybin service center operators within the area subject to the city of Stayton’s jurisdiction. It was leading 68.84% to 31.16%.

Sublimity: Measure 24-464 would prohibit psilocybin-related businesses within the city limits and  also would prohibit the establishment of psilocybin service center operators within the area subject to the City of Sublimity’s jurisdiction. It was passing 80.57% to 19.43%.

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