In a groundbreaking move, Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center, Epic Healing Eugene, has been providing adults over 21 with the opportunity to experience the effects of magic mushrooms legally since June. Psilocybin tea, wind chimes, and a tie-dye mattress are among the offerings at this office suite in Eugene, where visitors can embark on a transformative journey lasting approximately six hours. Many users describe the experience as including vivid geometric shapes, a temporary loss of identity, and a profound sense of unity with the universe.
Epic Healing Eugene has garnered immense interest, with a waitlist of over 3,000 names, including individuals dealing with conditions like depression, PTSD, or end-of-life distress. What sets this center apart is that it doesn’t require a prescription or referral, signifying Oregon’s ambitious step toward revolutionizing mental health care.
Last year, Colorado voters passed a measure allowing the regulated use of magic mushrooms, set to commence in 2024. California’s Legislature recently approved a measure allowing the possession and use of certain plant- and mushroom-based psychedelics, including psilocybin and mescaline, with plans for health officials to establish therapeutic use guidelines.
While psilocybin remains illegal in most of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated it as a “breakthrough therapy” in 2018. This summer, the FDA published draft guidance for researchers designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs. Researchers believe that psilocybin can reorganize the brain, enabling users to adopt new attitudes and overcome mental health issues.
However, not everyone supports Oregon’s move. The Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association opposed the 2020 ballot measure legalizing psilocybin, expressing concerns about safety and misleading promises to those struggling with mental illness. Angela Allbee, manager of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section, the agency regulating the state’s psilocybin industry, emphasized their focus on safety. The process involves a preparation session with a licensed facilitator, who stays with clients during their experience. Access can be denied to individuals with active psychosis, thoughts of harm, or recent lithium use.
The clients cannot purchase mushrooms to take home and must remain at the service center until the effects wear off. Oregon has made significant strides in drug-law reform in recent years, decriminalizing possession of hard drugs in addition to legalizing psilocybin. Nonetheless, the regulated marijuana industry in Oregon is grappling with oversupply, and drug decriminalization has not led to a significant expansion in addiction treatment or overdose reduction.
The success of Oregon’s psilocybin legalization remains uncertain. Oregon Psilocybin Services has spent two years developing regulations, and there are currently ten licensed service centers, four growers, two testing labs, and numerous facilitators. As awareness spreads, other service centers are witnessing an uptick in business.
The cost has been a point of contention, with some industry insiders predicting prices will decrease as more businesses enter the market. Clients can currently pay over $2,000, which covers service center expenses, facilitator fees, and lab-tested psilocybin. Annual licenses for service centers and growers cost $10,000, with a discount for veterans.
Allbee’s agency mandates that every licensee work toward social equity goals, with some already offering sliding-scale pricing. The program, currently funded by taxpayer dollars, is expected to become self-sustaining through licensing fees by mid-2025, allowing for further efforts to reduce prices.
Cathy Jonas, owner of Epic Healing Eugene, views providing legal access to psychedelic mushrooms as a calling, emphasizing her commitment to plant medicines. The law permits doses of up to 50 milligrams, although Jonas opted for a maximum of 35 milligrams, having found it profoundly potent in testing. Clients have reported transformative experiences that, while sometimes challenging, positively reshape their perspectives on painful memories.
Licensed grower Gared Hansen, a former police officer, now operates Uptown Fungus, a one-person psilocybin-growing operation near Springfield, Oregon. He emphasizes the importance of obtaining psilocybin from regulated service centers, as the mushrooms can be misidentified in the wild, leading to potentially dangerous situations.
Oregon’s pioneering approach to psilocybin legalization continues to spark conversation and curiosity. As more data becomes available, the impact on mental health care and society as a whole will become clearer, potentially setting a precedent for other states to follow suit.