Which psychedelic drugs are legal? At present, psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, LSD, MDMA, DMT, mescaline, and other psychedelic substances are classified as Schedule I controlled substances under US federal law, making them illegal.
Legalizing psychedelics would remove all legal prohibitions against their use and make them available to the general adult population for purchase and use at will, similar to cannabis in adult-use states.
Decriminalization, on the other hand, deprioritizes possession of psychedelics, so an individual would not be arrested for possessing small amounts, nor would it go on their criminal record, however, the substances would technically still be illegal.
Many issues relevant to cannabis decriminalization and legalization are also relevant to psychedelics, and there are compelling reasons to consider legalizing or decriminalizing them.
Why decriminalize or legalize psychedelics & Which psychedelic drugs are legal ?
The push for decriminalizing and legalizing psychedelics has been driven in part by the growing evidence that these compounds offer therapeutic potential to millions of people. Another reason is that the War on Drugs has been reevaluated by scholars, policymakers, and the public—and found to be misinformed, racist, and enormously damaging to both individuals and society.
Psychedelics, like cannabis, have been implicated in the War on Drugs, which soaks up more than $47 billion of funds in the US each year. More sobering still is the cost to society. Draconian sentencing saw the US prison population skyrocket following the 1970s when the War on Drugs began.
Black and Latino populations are notably more likely to receive prison sentences for drug violations, further entrenching socioeconomic disparities between ethnicities. Minor drug offenses that result in sentences can alter the course of a person’s life. It can be difficult to find work, rent a property, or receive assistance from the government after a drug arrest, as the consequences of that arrest can follow a person for the rest of their life.
Today, attitudes toward the War on Drugs are changing as people realize how disproportionately it affects Black and Latino Americans and acknowledge the incredible amount of money wasted on it. Attitudes on how psychedelics and cannabis can offer incredible medical and therapeutic benefits are also changing.