Local News

Denver Voters Decide 'Yes' To Decriminalize 'Magic Mushrooms'

May 8, 2019 / 8:40 AM MDT / CBS Colorado

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DENVER (CBS4) - A measure that would determine whether psychedelic mushrooms should be decriminalized in Denver has failed. A majority of votes counted showed opposition to Initiative 301, the Denver Psilocybin Decriminalization Initiative.

(credit: CBS)

The final count was no: 52%, yes 48%.

Earlier this year the group supporting the measure gathered enough signatures for the question to be added to the election ballot.

(credit: CBS)

If it passed, the use and possession of psilocybin mushrooms by adults 21 and older in Denver would have been at the lowest law enforcement priority in the city. Denver would have become the first municipality in the U.S. to decriminalize what some call "magic mushrooms."

Campaign manager for the Denver Psilocybin Initiative Kevin Matthews wears a mushroom necklace at an election watch party for the first bill in the nation that would decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms on May 7, 2019 in Denver. (credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

Supporters of Ordinance 301 gather at an election night watch party in Denver. (credit: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

A total of 31 percent of registered voters participated in Denver's municipal election this year. Of the more than 470,000 voters, just over 148,000 voters turned in ballots.