91111  Result: Adopted September 28, 2021

Mover:  O’Connor.  Supporter:  Reppart.

Yeas:    Bliss, O’Connor, Jones, Ysasi, Reppart

Nays:    Senita Lenear, Nathaniel Moody

 

WHEREAS, Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids is an educational and advocacy campaign with a goal to improve the health of Grand Rapids residents, including healing from depression, end-of-life anxiety/suffering, and addiction while not endorsing nor encouraging illegal behavior; and

 

WHEREAS, Decriminalize Nature Grand Rapids and individual Grand Rapids residents have advocated for political action to decriminalize Entheogenic Plants and Fungi; and

 

WHEREAS, those seeking to improve their health and well-being through the use of Entheogenic Plants and Fungi should have the freedom to explore these healing methods without risk of arrest and prosecution; and

 

WHEREAS, the municipalities of Oakland, CA; Santa Cruz, CA; Ann Arbor, MI; Somerville, MA; Cambridge, MA; Washington, DC; and the state of Oregon have taken efforts to decriminalize some entheogenic plants and fungi; and

 

WHEREAS, enforcement of laws regulating the possession and use of Entheogenic Plant and Fungi has not been a high priority for the City of Grand Rapids with very little public funds directed toward proactive investigation or prosecution of such cases; and

 

WHEREAS, this City Commission supports ongoing low prioritization for regulating the possession and use of Entheogenic Plant and Fungi in the City of Grand Rapids.

 

WHEREAS, this resolution does not authorize or enable any criminal activity that is illegal pursuant to state or federal law including but not limited to: commercial sales or manufacturing of Entheogenic plants and Fungi, possessing or distributing these materials in schools, driving under the influence of these materials, or public disturbance; aand any significant violation off this section which may result in law enforcement involvement by the City of Grand Rapids; and

 

WHEREAS, decriminalization of minor non-violent offenses has been a recent key component to the City of Grand Rapids legislative priority agenda.

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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that:

 

1.    The Mayor and City Commission hereby support local, state and federal legislative efforts to decriminalize Entheogenic Plants and Fungi and plant-based compounds that are listed on the Federal Controlled Substances Schedule.

 

 

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true transcript of the action of the City Commission of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, in public session held September 28, 2021.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                  ________________________________________

                                                           Joel H. Hondorp, City Cle