19 20-0809 Subject: Declaring A Mental Health Emergency
From: Councilmember Gallo
Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution Urging The State Legislature To Immediately Enact State Laws That 1) Decriminalize Or Legalize The Possession And Use Of Entheogenic Plants And Fungi, 2) Allow Local Jurisdictions To Authorize Its Citizens To Engage In Community-Based Healing Ceremonies Involving The Use Of Entheogenic Plants And Fungi Without Risk Of Arrest And State Prosecution, When Practiced In Accordance With Safe Practice Guidelines And Principles, And 3) That Provide Legal Protections Against Criminal Prosecution For Local Jurisdictions Their Elected And Appointed Officials, Practitioners And Users Operating In Accordance With The Oakland Community Healing Initiative (OCHI)
Clarification is needed on how "community organizations" will be chosen – and which ones they will be – to offer ceremonies. What training and standards will facilitators will be accountable to? DN has a reputation of late of severing relationships with many in the community who do work in this field. Here is the only info on it from OCHI:
"Our hope is to work with the Community Organizations to determine the facilitators.
The ordinance definition of a “Community-Based Organization” means an organization with a long-standing strong reputation of providing services to vulnerable populations in the City including, but not limited to, providing services focused on restorative justice, social justice, violence prevention, supporting the formerly incarcerated, unhoused, victims of violence or domestic violence, and similar community-based needs.
In addition the draft ordinance states individuals interested in becoming a Facilitator must be:
21 years of age or older;
Reside in the City;
Be recommended for participation in OCHI by at least one (1) of the participating Community-Based Organizations
Have at least five (5) years of facilitation experience; and
Agree to participate in a public health research program associated with OCHI."
I don't see a clear through-line from "community organizations" focused on social justice, supporting the unhoused &c. to those who are familiar with guiding often-challenging psychedelic experiences. Much more specificity/transparency is needed.
Why is the focus on specifically entheogenic plants versus all illegal drugs/controlled substances? There seems to be a lot of focus on these specifically, but the community organizations OCHI and Decriminalize Nature seem to be focused on working with are those working in social justice, violence prevention, homelessness, etc. Folks facing issues like these don't overlap a whole lot demographically with people who use psychedelics. Is there any plan to address decriminalization of all substances? While the healing properties of these plants has been effectively documented, many of the populations DN/OCHI seem interested in addressing would arguably benefit more from total decriminalization along with the access to these medicines.
Clarification is needed on how "community organizations" will be chosen – and which ones they will be – to offer ceremonies. What training and standards will facilitators will be accountable to? DN has a reputation of late of severing relationships with many in the community who do work in this field. Here is the only info on it from OCHI:
"Our hope is to work with the Community Organizations to determine the facilitators.
The ordinance definition of a “Community-Based Organization” means an organization with a long-standing strong reputation of providing services to vulnerable populations in the City including, but not limited to, providing services focused on restorative justice, social justice, violence prevention, supporting the formerly incarcerated, unhoused, victims of violence or domestic violence, and similar community-based needs.
In addition the draft ordinance states individuals interested in becoming a Facilitator must be:
21 years of age or older;
Reside in the City;
Be recommended for participation in OCHI by at least one (1) of the participating Community-Based Organizations
Have at least five (5) years of facilitation experience; and
Agree to participate in a public health research program associated with OCHI."
I don't see a clear through-line from "community organizations" focused on social justice, supporting the unhoused &c. to those who are familiar with guiding often-challenging psychedelic experiences. Much more specificity/transparency is needed.
Why is the focus on specifically entheogenic plants versus all illegal drugs/controlled substances? There seems to be a lot of focus on these specifically, but the community organizations OCHI and Decriminalize Nature seem to be focused on working with are those working in social justice, violence prevention, homelessness, etc. Folks facing issues like these don't overlap a whole lot demographically with people who use psychedelics. Is there any plan to address decriminalization of all substances? While the healing properties of these plants has been effectively documented, many of the populations DN/OCHI seem interested in addressing would arguably benefit more from total decriminalization along with the access to these medicines.