Redmond voters back psilocybin bans
Published 2:00 am Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Two Redmond measures on prohibiting the manufacture of psilocybin and psilocybin treatment centers within city limits appear to both be passing according to most recent, unofficial vote tallies in Tuesday’s election.
Measure 9-153, which would permanently prohibit the manufacture of psilocybin products, saw wide margins of voters approving the ban.
According to most recent tallies, the manufacturing measure sat at 8,033 votes in favor of the ban and 6,123 against it.
Measure 9-154, which would declare a two-year moratorium on psilocybin service centers, saw a slightly less wide margin, but a majority of voters still chose to ban the centers.
According to most recent tallies, the psilocybin service center measure sat at 7,494 votes in favor of the moratorium and 6,471 against.
Despite both Redmond measures failing, psilocybin supporters said they still see the election as a win after a similar measure that would have banned psilocybin manufacturing and service centers for unincorporated Deschutes County failed to pass.
Elaine Marshall, a supporter of psilocybin therapy who is authoring a book on veterans and psychedelic therapy, said it was more important to get treatment centers in rural areas so residents don’t have to travel to Bend for treatment.
“It turned out great,” said Marshall. “The (county) measure failing is a positive first step.”
Marshall said the next steps are to get approval from Deschutes County and figure out locations for treatment centers.
Anthony Lundy, a Redmond resident and veteran who served in the Army from 2001-2013, said the local vote allows for future dialogue surrounding mental health and substance abuse issues.
“I think from the therapy sense it at least gives us a pathway forward to discuss how we can have the appropriate controls in place while still opening up alternative areas,” he said.
The current results are unofficial. The election is likely to be certified in December.