No psychedelic drugs are legal at the federal level in the United States. However, ketamine, a dissociative drug often grouped with psychedelics, is legal for medical use.
At the state level, three states — Oregon, Colorado, and Utah — have legalized psychedelics as part of their own regulated-access or pilot programs. Several other states currently have legislative efforts pending to legalize psychedelics in some way. See details below for each of these.
Numerous cities across the United States have decriminalized psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms.” This means that although the drug is still illegal, the jurisdiction’s legal system is no longer prosecuting someone for possessing it. These localities include the District of Columbia and cities in four states — California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Washington. See list below.
Legalization
Oregon
Measure 109 enacted a regulated access program for administering psilocybin products at “psilocybin service centers” to individuals aged 21 years or older. (It also allowed cities and counties to prohibit these products and services within their jurisdictions, which several did.) The first service centers began opening in 2023.
The state also decriminalized small amounts of all psychedelics for personal use through Measure 110. For slightly larger amounts of some drugs, the penalty was reduced from a felony to misdemeanor possession.
Colorado
Proposition 122 enacted a regulated access program of “healing centers” where people can receive “natural medicines” — currently defined as psilocybin and psilocin, but in 2026 will expand to include DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline (excluding peyote). Healing centers are expected to begin opening in 2025.
The legislation also decriminalized the possession of — or the “giving away without remuneration” for — natural medicine, as well as personal use of it at any “private home or residence” for people 21 and older.
Utah
In March 2024, state legislators passed a bill that established a pilot program where psilocybin and MDMA can be administered as an alternative treatment option at two of the state’s healthcare systems: University of Utah Health and Intermountain.
Missouri
In May 2024, the state senate advanced a bill legalizing psilocybin treatment for veterans over the age of 21 who suffer from PTSD, major depressive disorder, substance use disorders or who require end-of-life care.
Decriminalization
District of Columbia
Washington D.C. decriminalized all “entheogenic plants and fungi” in 2020.
California
Arcata: Decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi in 2021.
Eureka: Decriminalized entheogenic plants and fungi in 2023.
Oakland: Decriminalized all entheogenic plants in 2019, including psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca (DMT), and peyote.
San Francisco: Decriminalized plant-derived psychedelics in 2022, specifically psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca (DMT), and iboga (ibogaine).
Santa Cruz: Decriminalized naturally occurring psychedelics in 2020.
Michigan
Ann Arbor: Decriminalized psychedelic plants and fungi in 2020
Detroit: Decriminalized naturally-occurring entheogenic plants and fungi in 2021.
Massachusetts
Cambridge: Decriminalized naturally occurring psychedelics in 2021.
Somerville: Decriminalized naturally occurring psychedelics in 2021.
Washington
Seattle: Decriminalized “non-commercial activity of psychedelic substances” in 2021, including cultivation and sharing of psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, ibogaine and (non-peyote) mescaline.
