Although it picked up votes as the night progressed, a ballot measure that would make Denver the first city in the nation to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms was still trailing as counting continued into the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
As of 1 a.m., when elections officials stopped counting for the night, Initiative 301 was behind 48.3 percent, or 68,711 votes, to 51.7 percent, or 73,450 votes. Many ballots cast Tuesday — votes that tend to skew younger — remain to be counted when Denver Elections resumes work Wednesday. (Update: Final unofficial results released later Wednesday showed Initiative 301 narrowly passing.)
Even if the measure passes, it will remain illegal to buy, sell or possess psilocybin mushrooms. Possession of psychedelics is a felony and can carry a punishment of up to a year in prison and a fine.
However, the initiative, if approved, would decriminalize the drug in Denver by telling police that enforcing laws against the possession of “magic mushrooms” should be their lowest priority. If approved, Denver will create a panel to oversee the effects of the ordinance.
On Tuesday evening, the Centennial Institute released a statement saying it “applauds the voters of Denver for opposing the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms.” The institute is a think tank at Colorado Christian University.
“Since the legalization of marijuana in 2012, there has been a tripling of the amount of people in hospital emergency rooms and millions spent in law enforcement efforts for public safety,” said Jeff Hunt, director of the institute, in a statement. “Voters took an important step back from embracing yet another illicit drug.”
The effects of psilocybin depend on various factors — such as age, type and dosage of mushroom — but include heightened sensory experiences, hallucinations and altered perceptions of space and time, according to the Center for Substance Abuse Research.
Backers of the measure say decriminalizing the drug will reduce arrests of nonviolent criminals and therefore save taxpayers money.
Tamar Rosenberg, who was dropping off her ballot at the William Scheitler Recreation Center in the Berkeley neighborhood Tuesday afternoon, said she gave a thumbs up to Initiative 301.
“I read some article on micro-dosing and how that can help with PTSD,” she said.
Sunni Nucci, a longtime Denver resident, said it made a difference that the measure called for the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms as opposed to their legalization. She voted in favor of 301.
Nucci said she doesn’t foresee “people tripping all over the place” if the measure were to pass.
“I’m more interested in the research potential (to treat PTSD),” she said.
While supporters say mushrooms can reduce stress and opioid use, some researchers say individuals should not use them if they are at risk for serious mental disorders.
But opponents say decriminalizing psychedelic mushrooms could increase drug use in a city where recreational and medical marijuana is already legal.
Denver resident Trieu Gentry, 50, said she opposed the measure.
“We already have legalized marijuana,” she said. “We don’t need to add more drugs to the list.”
Staff writer John Aguilar contributed to this report.
