In the United States, psychedelics have been legalized and decriminalized in several areas of the country, including Oregon and Colorado, plus some cities in California, Michigan, Massachusetts and Washington State.
Note: This blog was last updated on 03/05/2025 and at the time of writing, this was the current state of play in the United States. Psychedelic regulation is in a state of flux and changes to the law happen regularly. Please check your individual city and state legislature for a more up-to-date understanding of the law.
What is Legalization vs. Decriminalization?
- Legalization: Psychedelics are legally allowed for certain uses, typically medical or therapeutic, and are regulated by the government
- Decriminalization: Possession and use are still technically illegal but carry reduced penalties (for example: no jail time, only a fine, or lowest law enforcement priority)
Legalized States for Medical / Therapeutic Use
- Oregon: Legal psilocybin therapy (Measure 109, 2020)
- Colorado: Regulated psilocybin access under Proposition 122 (2022)
Decriminalized States and Cities
- Statewide
- Oregon: Decriminalized all drugs, including psychedelics (2020)
- Colorado: Decriminalized psilocybin, DMT, mescaline (not peyote), and ibogaine (2022)
- Cities (local decriminalization, meaning law enforcement deprioritizes psychedelics)
- California: Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz
- Colorado: Denver
- Michigan: Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and others
- Massachusetts: Cambridge, Somerville, Northampton
- Washington State: Seattle
- Washington, D.C.
Active Legislation
This means a bill has been introduced and is being considered by lawmakers but hasn’t yet passed into law. It can be in different stages, like committee review, voting, or awaiting a governor’s signature.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Connecticut
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
Our favorite (and very detailed!) resources about psychedelic legalization are regularly updated by Psychedelic Alpha:
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