Mushroom

The best argument for Oregon legalizing psilocybin mushrooms was that the mushrooms could help people.

Some also argued the drug should never have been criminalized in the first place and Oregon was right to lead the way for other states to follow. Psilocybin treatment has shown promise in treating people with depression, post-traumatic stress and other mental health issues.

But it’s not going to be able to help many if sessions cost $3,500 and more. It’s going to be a new experience for the rich to savor. There’s no requirement for any sort of medical condition to take the mushrooms. People can do it just for fun.

That may not trouble you. And if it works to help people, people will pay. Perhaps prices will fall as the industry matures.

But one part of the sale of the legalizing psilocybin to Oregon voters was that the program to oversee and monitor it would pay for itself. It’s not, as Willamette Week reported.

The industry is not bringing in enough fees to pay for the staff to monitor the program. It may one day. It is not now.

The Oregon Health Authority wants more than $6 million to pay for the gap in funding or it will not have staff to monitor a new and relatively untested drug program in the state. Not a good policy cocktail.

That $6 million comes from somewhere. It comes from the taxes you pay.

And what if prices don’t really decline? Oregonians could end up subsidizing mushroom trips for the rich.

Not likely what people who voted for Measure 109 had in mind.