{"id":2048317,"date":"2023-09-28T16:11:03","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T20:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-safety-advocates-urge-newsom-to-veto-psychedelic-bill-that-places-californians-in-danger\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T16:15:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T20:15:45","slug":"public-safety-advocates-urge-newsom-to-veto-psychedelic-bill-that-places-californians-in-danger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-safety-advocates-urge-newsom-to-veto-psychedelic-bill-that-places-californians-in-danger\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocates urge Newsom to veto risky psychedelic bill."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpublic-safety-advocates-urge-newsom-to-veto-psychedelic-bill-that-places-californians-in-danger%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2048317&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>California law enforcement leaders\u200b joined drug prevention experts on \u200dSeptember 25th \u200bin an \u2064hour-long\u2064 teleconference, passionately urging the governor to ban a bill that would decriminalize certain hallucinogens statewide. <\/p>\n<p>The bill, known as Senate Bill 58 and authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), would permit individuals aged 21 and older to possess \u200band transport small amounts of psychedelic substances, including psilocybin (commonly referred to as &#8220;magic mushrooms&#8221;). It would also allow for the cultivation of these drugs within specified limits.<\/p>\n<p>After narrowly \u200dpassing in both\u2062 the Assembly and the \u200cSenate, the fate of the bill now rests in the \u200bhands of Gov. Gavin Newsom, who must decide whether to sign it into law or veto it by mid-October.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/bill-to-legalize-psychedelic-mushrooms-advances-in-california-senate-5295374?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>California Senate Approves Bill to Legalize Psychedelic Mushrooms<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">5\/26\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/bill-to-legalize-psychedelic-mushrooms-advances-in-california-senate-5295374?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/organization-leaders-criticize-california-bill-seeking-to-legalize-certain-psychedelic-drugs-5174894?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>Organization Leaders Criticize California Bill Seeking \u200bto\u2062 Legalize Certain Psychedelic \u200cDrugs<\/h3>\n<p><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">4\/5\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/organization-leaders-criticize-california-bill-seeking-to-legalize-certain-psychedelic-drugs-5174894?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;SB \u200c58 is actually taking a step backwards. We in the United States have \u200dspent decades and countless resources discouraging and restricting the use of \u2062cigarettes.\u200c But now, we are focused \u2063on \u200blegalizing the use of\u2064 drugs that are extremely hazardous to\u2064 someone&#8217;s health,&#8221; said Ed Pecis, president of the California Narcotics Officers Association\u2014a Santa Clarita-based nonprofit law \u200cenforcement training organization\u2014during the Monday morning conference.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u2062Sen.\u2063 Wiener argues that legalizing these drugs will provide \u200cmuch-needed relief for individuals suffering from mental\u200b health\u200c issues,\u2064 particularly veterans.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Veterans and anyone suffering from PTSD \u2064and depression should not \u2063face criminal penalties for seeking relief,&#8221; stated Sen. \u200cWiener in a press release earlier this \u200bmonth. &#8220;Plant-based psychedelics are non-addictive and show tremendous promise at treating some of the most \u200dintractable drivers of\u200b our nation&#8217;s\u2064 mental health crisis.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, the National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition, representing over 60,000 law enforcement \u200dofficers in the state, strongly opposes the \u200dbill. They \u200bargue that hallucinogens have\u200d serious health \u200brisks and criticize supporters\u200c of the \u2064bill as &#8220;no better than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-safety-advocates-urge-newsom-to-veto-psychedelic-bill-that-places-californians-in-danger\/\" title=\"Advocates urge Newsom to veto risky psychedelic bill.\">sleazy snake oil salesmen seeking<\/a> to make a\u200b buck \u2062off the \u200bbacks of the vulnerable,&#8221; in a letter sent to Gov. Newsom on September 15th.<\/p>\n<p>While personal use of these substances would become legal after January 1, 2025, the bill also allows for treatment providers to use psychedelics in supervised settings once recommended by the state&#8217;s\u2062 Health and Human Services Agency and approved by the Legislature. However, concerns have been \u2063raised about the potential dangers \u2064of allowing usage in\u2064 larger \u2062group settings, as it may enable drug dealers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;SB58 even aims at\u200d permitting social or group sharing\u2063 eventually, which can give rise to \u200dcolossal public safety problems. Allowing for group\u200b sharing or supported use\u200c is effectively giving the drug dealers a \u200dbuilt-in defense,&#8221; said Frank Lee, vice president of California Coalition Against Drugs\u2014a statewide organization of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-bill-decriminalizing-magic-mushrooms-passes-legislature-awaiting-newsoms-signature\/\" title=\"California legislature passes bill decriminalizing 'magic mushrooms', awaiting Governor Newsom's signature.\">law enforcement groups\u2014<\/a>in a press release by the coalition and law enforcement and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dem-congressman-rented-office-space-from-convicted-cocaine-trafficker-records-show\/\" title=\"Dem Congressman Rented Office Space From Convicted Cocaine Trafficker, Records Show\">drug prevention groups<\/a>.<\/div>\n<h2>Potential Dangers for Young Adults<\/h2>\n<p>Opponents of the \u200bbill,\u200c such as Joel Justice, president of the California College and University Police Chiefs Association, argue that psychedelic usage among college-aged students can lead to increased depression and anxiety in adulthood. He cited\u2063 data from the Journal of Addiction during the \u2062conference, highlighting the potential risks.<\/p>\n<p>According\u2064 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, \u200cthere\u2064 were over 6,000 emergency \u2064hospital visits for hallucinogen misuse among youth aged 18 to 25 in 2020. Mr. Justice urged Gov. Newsom to consider the well-being of his own children and veto the bill.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Magic mushrooms contain the hallucinogen\u2064 psilocybin. (Moha El-Jaw\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Janet Rowse, an\u200c expert in drug prevention and executive director of Safe \u200dLaunch\u2014a nonprofit \u2063organization focused on youth substance \u2063prevention\u2014argued \u200dthat decriminalizing hallucinogens would \u2063only encourage their usage among \u200cthe state&#8217;s youth.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Increasing access through\u200c decriminalization and legalization of any intoxicant reduces the \u2062perceived harm and increases use&#8230; and that&#8217;s in the \u200bwhole population,&#8221; she stated during the conference.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Rowse also pointed out the historical use\u2062 of\u200b doctors&#8217;\u2064 recommendations by industries such as alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana to gain public trust. She emphasized that while there may be potential medical\u2064 uses for \u2064these substances in controlled settings, they should not be normalized or made widely available.<\/p>\n<p>Proponents of the bill,\u200b including the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and the \u2062Law Enforcement Action Partnership, argue that psychedelics are increasingly being \u200bused \u2064to treat \u2062mental \u2062health issues such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. They believe that the\u200d therapeutic potential of these \u200bsubstances outweighs the risks.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;Generations of anecdotal evidence and current clinical research at \u2064leading universities including Johns\u200b Hopkins, NYU, and UCLA point to therapeutic uses for psychedelic drugs\u2063 in \u2063treating\u2062 complex <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/9-year-old-girl-pepper-sprayed-during-interaction-with-rochester-police\/\" title=\"9-Year-Old Girl Pepper Sprayed During Interaction With Rochester Police\">mental health issues<\/a>,&#8221; wrote the Law Enforcement Action Partnership in support of the bill.<\/div>\n<h2>Only Proven Effective in Supervised Settings<\/h2>\n<p>However, opponents argue that psychedelics have only been proven\u200b effective in treating disorders within controlled settings, unlike what is proposed in SB 58. They cite concerns raised by Dr. Michael Bogenschutz, who oversees the psychedelic research program at \u200dNew York University&#8217;s Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>&#8220;We hope [psychedelics] will represent a major breakthrough, but we really can&#8217;t say that is true until we&#8217;ve accumulated and analyzed\u200d the \u200devidence that is needed\u200c to make that determination,&#8221; said Dr. Bogenschutz in\u200c a TIME magazine article, which was quoted in the bill&#8217;s analysis.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>A similar bill failed last year, which aimed to legalize a broader range\u200d of psychedelics. It was denied by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which recommended funding research on the matter before considering legalization.<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>Health and \u200cPublic Safety Risks<\/h2>\n<p>Opponents of \u200bthe bill, such as Dr. Roneet Lev, former chief medical\u200b officer for the White House Office of National\u2064 Drug Control Policy, argue\u200b that bypassing safeguards such as FDA approval and established medical regulations\u200d poses risks to Californians&#8217; health and safety.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There are standards the FDA follows to make sure drugs do not have \u200btoxins, carcinogens, and contaminants. And there are currently many modalities and therapeutics that work \u200dfor PTSD, depression, and anxiety. SB 58 circumvents the established medical and regulatory protections and places Californians in danger,&#8221; said Dr. Lev during the conference.<\/p>\n<p>They\u200c also express concerns about the impact on law enforcement, including\u2063 the need for additional training and the increased risk of DUI incidents.<\/p>\n<p>Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, president of the California State Sheriffs Association, emphasized\u2063 the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with individuals under \u200cthe influence of hallucinogens during the conference.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d bill passed\u2063 in the Assembly with a vote of 43-15 on September 6th and \u200cin the Senate with\u2062 a vote of 21-14 the following\u2062 day. \u2062Gov. Newsom now has until October 14th to make his decision.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What are the arguments \u2062made by opponents of California&#8217;s proposed bill to\u2064 decriminalize psychedelic substances?<\/h2>\n<p><span> <\/p>\n<h1>The\u200b Debate Over California&#8217;s Proposed Bill to \u2062Decriminalize Psychedelic Substances<\/h1>\n<p>On September \u200b25th, California law enforcement leaders and drug prevention experts \u200ccame together in a passionate teleconference, urging Governor Gavin Newsom to ban Senate Bill 58. This \u2063bill, \u200cauthored by Senator\u2064 Scott Wiener, aims to decriminalize certain hallucinogens, including psilocybin, commonly known as &#8220;magic mushrooms,&#8221; \u2062for individuals aged 21 and older. It also \u200callows for the cultivation of these substances within specified limits. The fate of the bill now rests in\u200b the hands of Governor Newsom, who must decide \u200bwhether to\u200d sign it into law or veto it by mid-October.<\/p>\n<p>Opponents of the bill argue that it is a step backward in the \u2062efforts to discourage drug use and\u2062 protect public\u2062 health. Ed Pecis, president of the California Narcotics Officers Association, expressed his concerns during the teleconference, stating, &#8220;SB 58 is actually taking a step backwards. We in the United\u2062 States have \u2062spent decades and countless resources discouraging \u2063and restricting the use of cigarettes. \u2063But now, \u200bwe \u200bare focused on legalizing the use of \u2063drugs that are extremely hazardous \u2062to someone&#8217;s health.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>However, Senator Wiener maintains that legalizing these substances can provide much-needed relief \u2063for individuals suffering from mental health issues, \u200cparticularly veterans. In a press release,\u2062 he emphasized that veterans and \u200banyone \u2062struggling \u2062with PTSD and depression should not face criminal penalties for seeking relief. He also highlighted the non-addictive nature of plant-based psychedelics and \u200btheir potential in treating \u200bmental\u200d health crises.<\/p>\n<p>The debate over the decriminalization of psychedelic substances is\u2064 complex and multifaceted. On one hand, proponents argue that decriminalization can open up new avenues for mental \u200dhealth treatment and research. They believe that the therapeutic potential of these substances \u200cshould not be overshadowed \u2062by their \u2063past stigmatization and criminalization.<\/p>\n<p>However, critics raise concerns about the potential risks and consequences of widespread use and access to psychedelic substances. They worry about the impact on\u200c public\u2063 safety, the potential for \u200cmisuse or\u200c abuse, and the challenges of regulating \u200dtheir production and distribution.\u200d Furthermore, opponents highlight the contradiction between\u200c efforts to \u2063discourage the use\u2062 of harmful substances like cigarettes while advocating for the legalization\u200d of substances that may also pose \u2064risks \u200cto public health.<\/p>\n<p>As Governor \u2064Newsom considers whether\u200b to sign or veto Senate Bill 58, it is \u2062crucial to weigh the potential benefits and risks of decriminalizing psychedelic substances. The\u2063 decision\u200c should be informed\u2064 by a thorough\u200b examination of the scientific evidence, public health considerations, and input from various stakeholders, including \u2062law \u200cenforcement, drug prevention experts, and individuals with\u200b lived experiences.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of the outcome, this \u2063debate underscores the ongoing discussions and shifts in attitudes towards drug policy and\u200c mental health treatment. It brings to \u2062the \u2063forefront important questions about balancing individual freedoms, public safety, and the \u200bwell-being of society as a whole.<\/p>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/bill-to-legalize-psychedelic-mushrooms-advances-in-california-senate-5295374?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">California Senate \u2064Approves Bill to Legalize Psychedelic Mushrooms<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/organization-leaders-criticize-california-bill-seeking-to-legalize-certain-psychedelic-drugs-5174894?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\">Organization Leaders Criticize California Bill Seeking to Legalize Certain Psychedelic Drugs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The passage or rejection of Senate \u2063Bill 58 in California will undoubtedly\u200c have broader implications for drug policy and mental health treatment nationwide. \u200dIt will be interesting to see how\u200b this debate unfolds and what impact it may have\u200b on future discussions surrounding the decriminalization and regulation of psychedelic substances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California law enforcement leaders and drug prevention experts recently united in a teleconference, urging the governor to reject Senate Bill 58. This proposed legislation, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, seeks to decriminalize specific hallucinogens throughout the state, permitting individuals aged 21 and above to possess and transport them for personal use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1349,"featured_media":2048318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1349"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2048317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2048318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2048317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2048317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2048317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}