Massachusetts Says No to Psychedelics—What Does This Mean for the Future of Legalization?

Massachusetts voters have rejected Question 4, a ballot measure that would have legalized certain natural psychedelics for adults 21 and older. As of Wednesday morning, with 90% of votes counted, 57% opposed the measure, halting plans to regulate psychedelics like psilocybin and mescaline in the state.

What Would Question 4 Have Allowed?

Had it passed, the law would have permitted adults to:

Possess, grow, and use psychedelics like psilocybin, psilocyn, mescaline, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and ibogaine under specific conditions.

Purchase psychedelics at licensed facilities and use them in supervised settings.

Grow psychedelics at home in a 12-foot-by-12-foot area.

Establish local control: Cities and towns could regulate, but not ban, licensed psychedelic facilities.

Other provisions included:

A sales tax plus a 15% excise tax on psychedelic sales, with the option for municipalities to impose an additional 2% tax.

Protections against discrimination for medical care, child custody, or professional discipline for legal use.

What Would Not Have Changed?

The measure wouldn’t have affected laws related to:

Driving under the influence of psychedelics.

Workplace policies prohibiting psychedelic use.

Restrictions on use in schools or public buildings.

While the specifics of voter opposition aren’t fully clear, critics likely raised concerns about public safety, regulation challenges, and the potential normalization of psychedelics. Massachusetts remains among the states taking a cautious approach, even as Colorado and Oregon have paved the way for psychedelic legalization.

With Massachusetts voting against legalization, Colorado and Oregon remain the only states to allow adult use of psychedelics. This decision underscores the ongoing debate across the U.S. about how—and whether—psychedelics should be legalized and regulated.

Should States Legalize Psychedelics for Adult Use?