King County leaders are set to decide on whether to remove barriers to expanded research into psychedelic substances .
King County is considering a resolution that would de-prioritize the law enforcement response to the personal use of psychoactive substances to treat health disorders in adults. King County leaders are set to decide on whether to remove barriers to expanded research into psychedelic substances and further deprioritize law enforcement around their personal use, citing growing evidence of potential mental health benefits.
The Metropolitan King County Council is set to consider a motion Tuesday supporting “entheogen-related activities,” including substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, and mescaline. The proposal would make investigation, arrest, and prosecution of adults using such substances for personal, noncommercial purposes among the county’s lowest priorities.Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, a sponsor of the measure, said the effort is focused on reducing barriers to treatment for people facing serious mental health challenges. “Anyone who needs additional medical treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, for anxiety, for addiction issues that they may be facing, for traumatic brain injury, we don’t want to have any additional barriers with potentially seeking medical treatment that could help them,” Mosqueda said. The resolution formalizes the council’s ongoing support for entheogens, which are sometimes referred to as “magic mushrooms,” as alternative treatment options. It also calls on state and federal governments to allow expanded research. Mosqueda pointed to studies suggesting psychedelics may help treat depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. “We’ve seen a number of studies affirm that depression, anxiety, PTSD, even substance use disorders, have a higher rate of success with the use of entheogens,” she said. The measure comes as several Washington cities, including Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, and Port Townsend, have adopted similar policies urging decriminalization and increased research. Under federal law, most entheogens remain classified as Schedule I controlled substances, though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has designated psilocybin-assisted therapy as a “breakthrough therapy” for certain forms of depression.In King County, officials say enforcement is already limited. Mosqueda said both the King County Sheriff’s Office and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office have indicated they are not actively prioritizing cases involving these substances. “We just want to reaffirm our county’s commitment to helping invest in the health and well-being of all residents,” Mosqueda said. The proposal emphasizes that the policy applies only to adults and personal use, not commercial distribution or activities that threaten public safety. “We are talking about adults. We are talking about sole use, so single-purpose use. We’re not talking about any sort of distribution,” Mosqueda said, adding that law enforcement would continue to pursue “problematic behavior.”“Too often treatment options available to those struggling with mental health conditions are limited, inaccessible, or ineffective,” said Jordan Crawley, an Army veteran. “It matters that we give those who served our country, at great personal cost, access to the full range of science-backed tools to heal when they come home.”“The criminalization of these substances is a federal discussion,” she said. “Here in King County, encouraging the federal government and state to continue to look at the benefits of entheogens is important.”If approved, the motion would not legalize entheogens but would signal the county’s support for research and its intent to shift enforcement priorities as communities continue to explore alternative approaches to addressing a growing mental health crisis.“Home Improvement” star Zachery Ty Bryan will be serving another 19 months in prison in Oregon after admitting to three probation violations.Investigators in Iowa believe they may have found the person responsible for the 2011 slaying of realtor Ashley Okland.Police believe the dog had been outside for more than 24 hours, exposed to the elements.The 2023 shooting death of a pregnant woman on her way to work in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood is again drawing attention to Washington’s “born alive” rule aKing County prosecutors are seeking to have a teenage suspect charged as an adult in connection with the murders of two high school students.
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