Photo Credit: YouTube / eGov PDX
(PORTLAND, Oreg.) — A new measure was advanced by the Portland City Council that would change the way police handle psychedelic substances. Christopher Herr, Council Operations Policy Analyst, presented the committee staff summary report.
Video Credit: eGov PDX
Following this, Councilor Steve Novick explained the decision to eliminate the proposal for an advisory committee.
“It was contemplated that the advisory committee would, among other things, kind of offer public health advice on the use of psychedelics. And some of us felt that the city is not the public health entity the county is, and I, at least, wasn’t quite sure that the city even had the expertise to figure out who to appoint to such a committee. So those are the reasons that the committee idea was removed,” Councilor Novick said.
Public comments were overwhelmingly in support of de-prioritizing the enforcement of natural psychedelics.
Courtney Moran, representing the Portland Psychedelic Society Action Fund, supported the ordinance to make noncommercial personal use of natural psychedelics a low law enforcement priority.
“The ordinance affirms noncommercial personal use of natural psychedelics as a low priority for law enforcement. This is not decriminalization. This is not legalization, and this does not authorize sales of any kind. It is simply but importantly a directive from the city that the personal use of naturally occurring psychedelic plants and fungi is a low priority, while maintaining enforcement of impaired driving, illegal sales, and other unsafe conduct," Moran said.
Next, Nate Howard, a District 3 resident and former city hall staffer, shared his personal experience with psychedelics, stating they helped him recover from severe burnout and avoid alcoholism.
Photo Credit: Youtube / eGov PDX / Howard
“Most of my work now is on psychedelic health care locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. This effort has been developed over years with, at this point, hundreds of stakeholders. It was crafted initially with the National Council of the Native American Church in respect to their biocultural heritage and ceremonial use of peyote. At that time, we had endorsements of the tribal relations director, among others,” Howard said.
Howard was involved in the creation of Oregon's Measure 109 and emphasized the ordinance's alignment with noncommercial use, developed in respect for tribal heritage. He urged a 'yes' vote to enable the healing potential he experienced.
Amy Charlesworth, a 16-year military veteran and licensed Oregon psilocybin facilitator, shared her personal story of overcoming severe suicidal ideation and PTSD with psychedelics after traditional medical treatments failed.
Charlesworth cited a large OHSU study; she underscored the efficacy of psychedelics for anxiety, depression, and PTSD, advocating for increased access and economic opportunities in Oregon.
“Oregon Health and Sciences University and Open Study published in the JAMA Network on August 19, 2026, demonstrated that after three months, participants using a variety of psychedelics reported reductions in moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, along with improved well-being and life satisfaction. This Oregon study is the largest study in the world on psychedelics to date, and the results show the power of them as a healing modality,” Charlesworth said.
Ultimately, the Psychedelic Health and Safety Code, which designates noncommercial personal use of natural psychedelics as a low law enforcement priority, was passed to second reading. An advisory commission proposal was removed. The final vote is expected to be held on September 30.
OpGov.news has reached out for further comment on this issue and will update this article with any new information.
If you would like to comment on this report, please email me at rory.h@lead4earth.org.
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