Where are psychedelics legal in the United States?

In the United States, psychedelics have been state-regulated or 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 07/28/2025. Psychedelic regulations are constantly changing and legal changes happen regularly. Please check your individual city and state legislature for an up-to-date and complete understanding.

What is Legalization / State-Regulation / Decriminalization?

• Legalization: Right now, psychedelics are classified as a Schedule I substance, which means they are always federally illegal in the United States. Although local areas may offer state-regulated programs or decriminalization laws, this does not directly change their legal status.
• State-Regulation: This means that individual states, like Colorado and Oregon, have established licensing frameworks for psychedelic therapy.
• Decriminalization: Possession and use are still illegal but carry reduced penalties or priorities (for example: no jail time, only a fine, or lowest law enforcement priority)

State-Regulated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

• Oregon: Psilocybin therapy (Measure 109, 2020)
• Colorado: Regulated psilocybin access and therapy (Proposition 122, 2022)

Our favorite (and very detailed!) resources about psychedelic legalization are regularly updated by Psychedelic Alpha:

• Psychedelic Laws in the United States
• Worldwide Psychedelic Laws by Country

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Decriminalized States and Cities

• Statewide
  • Colorado: Decriminalized psilocybin, DMT, mescaline (not peyote) and ibogaine (2022)

• Cities (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: Olympia, Port Townsend, Seattle and Jefferson County
  • 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, public 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