Denver becomes the first American city to vote for the decriminalization of magic mushrooms.

Denver narrowly voted in favor of decriminalizing hallucinogenic mushrooms Tuesday at the country's first such referendum. Election officials announced Wednesday afternoon that the measure for the vote was passed with a margin of 50.6% to 49.4% with 176,000 votes cast. The voting measure, known as the Initiative 301, requires the police to emphasize the personal possession or use of psilocybin mushrooms, a substance regulated by the Schedule. I of the federal law, so that it constitutes "the lowest priority in law enforcement in the city and county of Denver. "The initiative also asks the city to set up a review committee to assess the impacts of decriminalization, including impacts on public safety, finances and health.

The wording of this initiative is similar to that of the decriminalization measure of marijuana adopted by Denver voters before the statewide vote in 2012. "Psychedelic mushrooms would still be illegal to buy, sell or own the latter being a crime can result in up to one year in prison and a fine, "says the Denver Post. "But Initiative 301 donors hope to reduce the risk of users getting caught with fungi."

"Denver 's law enforcement forces were not enthusiastic about the prospect of more readily available hallucinogens," the Washington Post says. "But a number of studies have shown that psilocybin can have lasting positive effects on depression, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and anxiety." The vote was held on three weeks and support for the initiative was maintained until the final. days when an increase in the number of voters slightly exceeded the finish line.