Americans everywhere are wondering how psilocybin mushrooms legality may change across the country after Denver, Colorado became the first and only city in the United States to decriminalize the drug.
But, here’s why it’s important to remember the consequences of using, growing, possessing, buying or selling these drugs in Pennsylvania.
What exactly happened in Denver?
Five years ago, Colorado famously legalized recreational marijuana. So far, the move has generated a cool billion dollars in tax, license and fee revenue for the state.
Only the city and county of Denver is affected by the recent mushroom referendum. It doesn’t change the laws in the rest of Colorado.
Also, the new referendum “decriminalizes” rather than legalizes the drug in Denver.
It states that people at least 21 years old possessing mushrooms for personal use “shall be the lowest law enforcement priority in the City and County of Denver.”
Denver is also prohibited from spending any resources to prosecute personal possession and use of magic mushrooms.
Pennsylvania drug laws say “not so fast”
Everywhere in the Keystone state, both marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms are illegal for recreational use.
If a state-approved physician certifies that you suffer from one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions, marijuana can be purchased from a state-approved dispensary.
About 10 of Pennsylvania’s larger cities have decriminalized marijuana in small amounts, usually 30 grams or less, and decreased the maximum penalty.
Still, under state law marijuana is still illegal everywhere within the borders of Pennsylvania. Potentially, you could receive up to 30 days in prison and a $500 fine for just a bud or two.
In addition, where federal law conflicts with state law, federal law wins. Currently, marijuana for any purpose is still against federal law everywhere in the United States.
As far as mushrooms in the United States go, only Denver has decriminalized this hallucinogenic. Everywhere else in America, including Pennsylvania, they remain a serious drug offense.