(a) The people of the District of Columbia find that use of entheogenic plants and fungi have been demonstrated, through scientific studies, to be beneficial in addressing a variety of afflictions, including substance abuse, addiction, trauma, post-traumatic stress syndrome, chronic depression, anxiety, diabetes, cluster headaches, and other conditions; and that practices with entheogenic plants and fungi have long existed, have been considered sacred to a number of cultures and religions for millennia, and continue to be enhanced and improved. Citizens of the District of Columbia seeking to improve their health and well-being through the use of entheogenic plants and fungi currently use them in fear of arrest and prosecution.
(b) It is declared that the policy of this chapter is to make investigation and arrest of adults for non-commercial planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, possessing, or engaging in practices with entheogenic plants and fungi among the lowest law enforcement priorities for the District of Columbia.
(Mar. 16, 2021, D.C. Law 23-268, § 2, 68 DCR 001376.)
Editor's NotesThis section was created by Initiative No. 81, the Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020, D.C. Law 23-268, March 16, 2021, 68 DCR 1376.