A mushroom in Bush’s Pasture Park on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
A state survey of over 4,000 Oregonians found most interested in accessing psilocybin services when available next January listed their reason as “general well-being” rather than a specific health concern.
Oregonians voted to legalize psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, for therapeutic use in 2020. Oregon the first state in the U.S. to regulate psylocybin.
Of the 4,162 people surveyed, around 3,000 listed general well-being as the reason they’d seek psilocybin services, followed by around 2,690 for depression and the same number for anxiety, according to the survey.
The Oregon Health Authority starts accepting applications for licenses January 2, 2023.
The survey included responses from 167 Marion County residents and 40 Polk County residents who said they’d be interested in accessing services.
Fifteen percent of those surveyed or 660 were interested in getting approval for a training program, 36% or around 1,600 were interested in a facilitator license and 22% or around 980 were interested in a manufacturer license, according to the survey, conducted in January and February by the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section at OHA’s Public Health Division.
Twenty percent or around 900 respondents were interested in a server center license, and 5% or around 230 were interested in a testing lab license.
Most of those surveyed said they were from Multnomah County, the survey said.
“Although the survey was administered one year ahead of when we will begin accepting applications for licensure, we saw strong participation from the community,” said Angie Allbee, Oregon Psilocybin Services manager at OHA, in the news release. “The survey findings, while preliminary, help us to better understand community interest in accessing psilocybin services, in licensure, and in training program approval. This is an exciting foundation to build upon.”
-Ardeshir Tabrizian
