Alaska Ballot Proposal Aims to Decriminalize Natural Psychedelics

A draft ballot measure currently under review by the Alaska Department of
Law would decriminalize “natural medicines” in the state, including
psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogenic compounds common in psychedelic
mushrooms, the Alaska Beacon reports.

The proposal, the Alaska Natural Medicine Act, is modeled after Colorado’s
successful ballot initiative to decriminalize natural psychedelics.
Submitted for review by the advocacy group Natural Medicine Alaska on June
18, the proposal would decriminalize the “personal use, possession,
growing, gifting, gathering, and community use of certain [natural
medicines], including DMT, mescaline (except peyote), psilocybin, and
psilocin,” the organization said in an initiative policy outline.

The review process is expected to wrap up by August 17, the report said.

If approved, possession would be limited to individuals at least 21 years
old. In addition to blanket decriminalization, the proposal offers a
“Regulated Access Model” that includes “licensed healing centers where
adults can receive supervised natural medicine services,” as well as a
“Traditional Use Model” covering the “ceremonial, spiritual, or cultural
use of natural plant medicines in accordance with practices passed down
through generations within indigenous or traditional communities.”

In an interview with the Beacon, the interim co-executive director of the
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Ismail Ali
applauded the measure as the first psychedelics decriminalization campaign
he’s seen including Native leadership local to the region.

If approved by the Department of Law, supporters will have to collect at
least 34,099 valid voter signatures — including minimum requirements from
certain districts — to qualify the proposal for the ballot. If supporters
can complete the signature-gathering process before the state Legislature
convenes in January, the proposal would qualify for the 2026 ballot.
However, if the process wraps up after lawmakers convene the session, the
ballot question would be delayed until 2028, the report said.

Oregon was the first state to decriminalize certain natural psychedelics by
ballot initiative in 2020, followed by Colorado voters in 2022.