Initiative 81
Initiative 81 was a
Creation
After the birth of her first child, proposer
After learning about the effort to decriminalize
On December, 20, 2019, Lavasani submitted the final text of ballot initiative at the DC Board of Elections and formally created the Campaign to Decriminalize Nature DC.[1] The subject matter hearing took place on Wednesday, February 5, 2020[7] and at the hearing the DC Board of Elections approved the ballot initiative's language.[8]
Petition gathering
Due the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council of the District of Columbia changed the way political campaigns were allowed to collect signatures to achieve ballot access.[9] For the first time, voters were able to submit completed petitions through the mail or electronically.[9] Nikolas Schiller, the campaign's field director, said there were over 7,000 petitions that were returned by mail.[10] Between May and July, approximately 60 days, the campaign collected more than 36,000 signatures from voters.[11] On August 5, 2020, the DC Board of Elections verified that 25,477 signatures, 642 more than what was legally required, were properly submitted, which placed the initiative on the general election ballot.[12]
Opposition in Congress
The initiative was opposed by
Election
Choice | Votes | % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 214,685 | 76.18 |
No | 67,140 | 23.82 |
Total votes | 281,825 | 100.00 |
Registered voters/turnout | 517,890 | 54.41% |
Source: DC Board of Elections[2]
Completion
The congressional review period ended at 12:01 a.m. on March 16, 2021.
See also
- Initiatives and referendums in the District of Columbia
- Psilocybin decriminalization in the United States
References
- ^ a b c "Initiative 81". Decriminalize Nature DC. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ a b "Election Results". Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-11-03). "D.C. voters approve ballot question to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-11-17.
- ^ a b "Council of the District of Columbia Legislative Information Management System". Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Austermuhle, Martin (2020-01-09). "This D.C. Group Wants To Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms And Some Psychedelic Plants". WAMU. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ a b c Beaujon, Andrew (2020-07-27). "How the "Most Normal Person Ever" Became the Face of a Movement to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Notice ID: N0089058- Elections, Board of - Notice of Public Hearing - Receipt and Intent to Review Initiative Measure "Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act of 2020", DC Regulations". dcregs.dc.gov. 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-02-05). "Vote to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms,' other psychedelics may reach D.C. ballot in November". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ a b Kaplan, v (2020-05-12). "D.C. 'magic mushrooms' petition to be signed online, by mail". Washington Times. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Moyer, Justin Wm. (2020-08-05). "D.C. residents to vote on decriminalization of 'magic mushrooms' on November ballot". Washington Post. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Peterson, Kristina (2020-07-11). "Psychedelic Mushrooms Could Pit D.C. Against Congress". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Austermuhle, Martin (2020-08-05). "Should D.C. Police Ease Enforcement Of Magic Mushroom Laws? Voters Will Get To Weigh In This Fall". DCist. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Nelson, Steven (July 8, 2020). "Not groovy, man: Congressman vows to stop DC from allowing magic mushrooms". New York Post. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
- ^ Jaeger, Kyle (July 15, 2020). "GOP Congressman Withdraws Amendment To Block D.C. Psychedelics Decriminalization". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved May 12, 2023.