2024 Nov 5 :: City of Somerville :: Question 4 :: Local MeasureDo you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 1, 2024? See summary »

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Yes
 
 
No
 
 
Summary

This proposed law would allow persons aged 21 and older to grow, possess, and use certain natural psychedelic substances in certain circumstances. The psychedelic substances allowed would be two substances found in mushrooms (psilocybin and psilocyn) and three substances found in plants (dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and ibogaine). These substances could be purchased at an approved location for use under the supervision of a licensed facilitator. This proposed law would otherwise prohibit any retail sale of natural psychedelic substances. This proposed law would also provide for the regulation and taxation of these psychedelic substances
This proposed law would license and regulate facilities offering supervised use of these psychedelic substances and provide for the taxation of proceeds from those facilities’ sales of psychedelic substances. It would also allow persons aged 21 and older to grow these psychedelic substances in a 12-foot by 12-foot area at their home and use these psychedelic substances at their home. This proposed law would authorize persons aged 21 or older to possess up to one gram of psilocybin, one gram of psilocyn, one gram of dimethyltryptamine, 18 grams of mescaline, and 30 grams of ibogaine (“personal use amount”), in addition to whatever they might grow at their home, and to give away up to the personal use amount to a person aged 21 or over.
This proposed law would create a Natural Psychedelic Substances Commission of five members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer which would administer the law governing the use and distribution of these psychedelic substances. The Commission would adopt regulations governing licensing qualifications, security, recordkeeping, education and training, health and safety requirements, testing, and age verification. This proposed law would also create a Natural Psychedelic Substances Advisory Board of 20 members appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer which would study and make recommendations to the Commission on the regulation and taxation of these psychedelic substances.
This proposed law would allow cities and towns to reasonably restrict the time, place, and manner of the operation of licensed facilities offering psychedelic substances, but cities and towns could not ban those facilities or their provision of these substances.
The proceeds of sales of psychedelic substances at licensed facilities would be subject to the state sales tax and an additional excise tax of 15 percent. In addition, a city or town could impose a separate tax of up to two percent. Revenue received from the additional state excise tax, license application fees, and civil penalties for violations of this proposed law would be deposited in a Natural Psychedelic Substances Regulation Fund and would be used, subject to appropriation, for administration of this proposed law.
Using the psychedelic substances as permitted by this proposed law could not be a basis to deny a person medical care or public assistance, impose discipline by a professional licensing board, or enter adverse orders in child custody cases absent clear and convincing evidence that the activities created an unreasonable danger to the safety of a minor child.
This proposed law would not affect existing laws regarding the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence, or the ability of employers to enforce workplace policies restricting the consumption of these psychedelic substances by employees. This proposed law would allow property owners to prohibit the use, display, growing, processing, or sale of these psychedelic substances on their premises. State and local governments could continue to restrict the possession and use of these psychedelic substances in public buildings or at schools.
This proposed law would take effect on December 15, 2024

A YES VOTE would allow persons over age 21 to use certain natural psychedelic substances under licensed supervision and to grow and possess limited quantities of those substances in their home, and would create a commission to regulate those substances.

A NO VOTE would make no change in the law regarding natural psychedelic substances.

2024 Nov 5 :: City of Somerville :: Question 4 :: Local MeasureDo you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 1, 2024? See summary »

Ballot Question Results

View results as: # | %  
Ward
Yes
No
Blank Votes Spoiled Votes Total Votes Cast Total Ballots Cast
Totals
 
25,235
13,082
1,641
6
38,317
39,964
Precinct 1
 
776
421
71
0
1,197
1,268
Precinct 2
 
591
387
54
0
978
1,032
Precinct 3
 
789
460
41
0
1,249
1,290
Precinct 4
 
422
261
37
0
683
720
Precinct 4A
 
199
153
26
0
352
378
Precinct 1
 
599
285
49
0
884
933
Precinct 1A
 
361
180
22
0
541
563
Precinct 2
 
983
426
40
0
1,409
1,449
Precinct 3
 
975
422
62
0
1,397
1,459
Precinct 4
 
992
459
77
0
1,451
1,528
Precinct 1
 
1,050
458
70
0
1,508
1,578
Precinct 2
 
914
478
78
0
1,392
1,470
Precinct 3
 
1,068
491
56
0
1,559
1,615
Precinct 4
 
1,023
473
67
0
1,496
1,563
Precinct 1
 
686
471
66
1
1,157
1,224
Precinct 2
 
569
285
43
0
854
897
Precinct 2A
 
244
96
20
0
340
360
Precinct 3
 
920
530
51
0
1,450
1,501
Precinct 4
 
551
385
65
0
936
1,001
Precinct 1
 
1,025
495
63
0
1,520
1,583
Precinct 2
 
984
559
71
3
1,543
1,617
Precinct 3
 
1,055
493
51
0
1,548
1,599
Precinct 4
 
1,169
501
62
0
1,670
1,732
Precinct 1
 
1,155
575
67
0
1,730
1,797
Precinct 2
 
1,199
618
55
0
1,817
1,872
Precinct 3
 
184
89
4
0
273
277
Precinct 3A
 
165
87
12
0
252
264
Precinct 4
 
1,105
574
71
1
1,679
1,751
Precinct 1
 
1,179
550
35
0
1,729
1,764
Precinct 2
 
734
507
59
0
1,241
1,300
Precinct 3
 
717
432
66
1
1,149
1,216
Precinct 4
 
852
481
30
0
1,333
1,363
Totals
 
25,235
13,082
1,641
6
38,317
39,964