Resolution 41609
Resolution Deprioritizing Entheogenic Practices in Tacoma (personal use only)

Public Testimony
Tacoma Takes a Major Step Forward in Recognizing the Benefits of Psychedelics
January 31, 2025 – The Tacoma Psychedelic Society is proud to announce the passing of Resolution 41609 by a unanimous vote of the Tacoma City Council, marking a significant step forward in mental health treatment and criminal justice reform. This resolution declares entheogen-related activities among the City's lowest law enforcement priorities, underscoring the Council's support for exploring the therapeutic benefits of entheogens.
District 5 Council Member Joe Bushnell, along with co-sponsors Mayor Victoria Woodards, At-large Council Member Olgy Diaz, and District 3 Council Member Jamika Scott, championed this initiative. Their collective efforts reflect a growing recognition of the potential benefits of entheogens in treating various mental health conditions.
The passage of the resolution was a result of members of the greater Tacoma community coming forward to share their deeply personal experiences and the benefits they received from entheogens. Their testimonies underscored the transformative impact entheogens can have on mental health and played a crucial role in garnering support for the resolution.
Tacoma now joins a list of Washington state jurisdictions – including Seattle, Port Townsend, Olympia, and Jefferson County – that have adopted similar stances, prioritizing public health over criminalization.
As noted in the City Council’s press release following the resolution, scientific studies have demonstrated the efficacy of entheogens in treating conditions such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and PTSD. The FDA has even designated psilocybin-assisted therapy as a breakthrough therapy for treatment-resistant depression. This resolution paves the way for continued research and potential breakthroughs in mental health treatments.
Tacoma Psychedelic Society founder Cole Schrim celebrated the resolution but emphasized that the work to normalize entheogens is far from over. Schrim highlighted two bills heading to Olympia next week: SB 5201 and HB 1433. While these bills support the positive effects of psychedelics, they do not include the decriminalization of these substances or sufficiently protect resolutions like Tacoma's 41609 that cities have already passed.
“We do not want to repeat the failure of Oregon’s movement to eliminate barriers and increase access to entheogens. Entheogen use is a matter of cognitive liberty and personal freedom, not a costly medical treatment people can only experience inside of hospitals or clinics. We have the opportunity to empower people to cultivate their own medicine.”