Magic mushrooms could soon be legal in California

Having already helped lead the way in marijuana legalisation, California may be on its way to legalising magic mushrooms as well.

Newly proposed legislation wants to see the main ingredient in mushrooms, psilocybin, decriminalised so that anyone over the age of 21 won’t be penalised for selling, growing, possessing or transporting the substance.

Residents could vote on the proposal as early as next year. If it passes, California would the be the first state in the US to legalise magic mushrooms.

A former mayoral candidate, Kevin Saunders, filed the proposal on Friday saying that magic mushrooms - a Class A drug in the UK - helped him recover from a heroin addiction 15 years ago and was the next logical step after the legalisation of weed.

Saunders said: “I think we’re seeing something that could literally heal our brothers and sisters. We’re talking about real cutting-edge stuff.”

Recent studies have used psilocybin to treat depression in cancer patients with positive results.

This follows news that Oregon is making moves to decriminalise MDMA, cocaine and other illicit drugs.

Read the Secret DJ’s story of taking mushrooms on a flight to Miami here

Louis Anderson-Rich is Mixmag’s Digital Intern. Follow him on Twitter