奥克兰是美国第二个让致幻蘑菇合法化的城市

Oakland Second US City to Legalize Magic Mushrooms

This week, Oakland, California became the second city in the United States to decriminalize magic mushrooms.

Magic mushrooms are unlike other mushrooms. They have hallucinogenic properties, meaning people who eat them see things that may not be real.

The Oakland City Council acted on Tuesday after several people spoke¹ to the group’s members. They said magic mushrooms helped them fight depression, drug dependency and post-traumatic stress disorder², or PTSD.

All city council members voted to decriminalize the adult use and possession of magic mushrooms as well as other psychoactive plants and fungi³. In May, Denver, Colorado voters approved a similar measure for people 21 years of age and older.

Many speakers spoke up in support of the move and described ayahuasca and peyote, both hallucinogens, as traditional plant-based medicines.

In South America, indigenous⁴ people have been using ayahuasca for centuries; peyote is more common among native North Americans.

Use of the plants “saved my life,” said one man who described himself as a former drug user. “I don’t know how to describe it other than miraculous⁵.”

Other speakers described the hallucinogens as providing spiritual healing.

The vote in Oakland makes the investigation⁶ and arrest of adults who grow, possess, use or distribute such plants and fungi low urgency for police. Now, no city money can be used to enforce laws criminalizing the substances. In addition, the district attorney’s office will stop legal action against people who have been arrested for use or possession.

City council member Noel Gallo proposed the resolution. He had said decriminalizing such plants would help Oakland police work on more serious crimes.

Council member Loren Taylor added amendments⁷ that the substances “are not for everyone.” He suggested that people with PTSD or major depression seek professional help before using them. The amendments also suggest that people seek expert guidance and have a trusted friend present during use.

Reaction to the vote

Carlos Plazola heads Decriminalize Nature Oakland, a non-profit group. He said before the council meeting that hallucinogenic plants and fungi are a huge help in aiding healing. He said a lot of doctors and mental health experts unofficially suggest use of these substances.

Magic mushrooms remain illegal under both federal and state laws. They are considered Schedule 1 under the federal Controlled Substances Act, which bans drugs which may cause drug abuse and may have no medical value.

Some locals had raised concerns about unsafe use of the substances, especially in schools.

To deal with such concerns, Gallo said, lawmakers would have to establish rules and regulations about the use of such substances. That means being clear about which substances can be used, how to use them and what the related risks are.

Hallucinogenic plants have been used for centuries in religious and cultural settings.

Gallo remembers his grandmother treating his family members with such plants for a number of health issues.

“Growing up in the Mexican community, this was our cure,” Gallo said. “We didn’t have a way to pay for any drugs. These are plants we have known for thousands of years in our community and that we continue to use.”

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

mushroom – n. a fungus⁸ that is shaped like an umbrella

hallucinogenic – adj. describing a substance (such as a drug) that causes people to see or sense things that are not real

fungi – n. any one of a group of living things that often look like plants but live on dead or decaying things (singular: fungus)

indigenous – adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in an area or environment

miraculous – adj. very wonderful or amazing like a miracle

district attorney – n. a public official who acts as prosecutor for the state or federal government in court in a particular district

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 fungi   

n.真菌，霉菌

参考例句：

• Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。
• The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

4 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

5 miraculous   

adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的

参考例句：

• The wounded man made a miraculous recovery.伤员奇迹般地痊愈了。
• They won a miraculous victory over much stronger enemy.他们战胜了远比自己强大的敌人，赢得了非凡的胜利。

6 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

7 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

8 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。