Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said she supports the national movement to decriminalize psychedelics and plans to again introduce legislation promoting research into such substances, according to an activist who spoke with her following a town hall meeting on Sunday.
At the event in New York City, the congresswoman had a brief conversation with a member of a local group working to advance a measure to remove criminal penalties associated with entheogenic plants and fungi such as psilocybin and ibogaine.
Aaron Genuth, organizing director for Decriminalize Nature New York City, told Marijuana Moment that he discussed the group’s efforts with Ocasio-Cortez in a photo line and said she was “extremely happy” about the group’s work.
The congresswoman “made sure to note that she’s working on it and introducing another measure in Congress,” he said. “It was a really good, positive encounter and confirmed that she’s extremely supportive of what we’re all doing.”
While the congresswoman didn’t offer many details in the brief chat, she said the legislation would be research-focused, according to Genuth. It seems likely that the proposal will be similar to an amendment to a spending bill that Ocasio-Cortez offered in June. That measure, which would have removed a rider in Fiscal Year 2020 spending legislation that she argued inhibits research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics,was ultimately rejected in a House floor vote. She could offer a similar amendment when Congress takes up 2021 appropriations legislation next spring.
Now, activists innearly 100 localities across the countryare considering advancing similar proposals. That includes New York City, where a recently established chapter has begun reaching out to local lawmakers to champion decriminalization.
Genuth said the group has received “really good responses from a couple City Council members, including at least one who is interested in putting up a measure.”
“We’ve been getting really good—pretty much universally good—responses from people we’ve been reaching out to on the local political and activism side,” he said.