Before you continue
Educational purposes only
PPSAF does not promote, encourage, or facilitate the use of any illegal substance. This site exists to reduce harm for people who choose to use psychedelics regardless, and to inform the public about a proposed change to Portland's local enforcement priorities.
Nothing here is medical advice, legal advice, or an endorsement of use. You must be of legal age in your location to continue.
Natural psychedelics remain illegal under Oregon and federal law. Nothing on this page, and nothing in the proposed ordinance, provides legal protection or immunity from prosecution.
Educational purposes only. PPSAF does not promote or encourage the use of any substance on this site. This is harm-reduction and policy information, not medical or legal advice.
§1: Purpose
Portland is deciding how it deals with plant-derived psychedelics.
Here's how to stay safer while it decides.
This guide is published by the Portland Psychedelic Society Action Fund (PPSAF) to accompany our work on Portland's lowest law-enforcement-priority ordinance for psychoactive plant and fungi medicines.
Portland City Council holds its First Reading of the Act September 9, 2026. It has not been adopted, and nothing on this page changes the law as it stands today.
This is education, not medical or legal advice. It doesn't tell anyone how much to take and isn't a substitute for a doctor, a lawyer, or a licensed facilitator. If you're in a medical emergency, call 911.
Scope: the ordinance would apply only to plant- and fungi-derived medicines, meaning psilocybin mushrooms, mescaline from non-peyote cacti, and other plant- or fungi-derived/based psychedelics. Peyote is deliberately excluded. LSD and MDMA are synthetic and would fall outside the ordinance entirely, though we still cover them below for general risk reduction. See §5 for the full breakdown.
§2
Core principles of risk reduction
These hold regardless of which substance is involved. Most bad outcomes trace back to one of these being skipped, not to the substance itself.
Set & setting
Your mindset going in and the physical space you're in shape the experience more than almost anything else. Choose a familiar, comfortable space, and don't go in already in crisis.
Never use alone
Have a sober, trusted person present: someone who knows what you've taken, stays clear-headed, and can act if something goes wrong.
Test before you take it
Reagent kits and fentanyl test strips (sold by DanceSafe, and often free from local harm reduction programs) can flag adulterants. A clean test doesn't guarantee purity, but a bad one can save your life.
Know your interactions
Medications, other substances, and underlying health conditions change risk dramatically. See §4 before combining anything with anything.
Less is reversible
You can always take more. You can't take less. If you're unsure, wait. Most substances here take real time to peak.
Have an exit plan
Know how you'll get home, who to call if things go sideways (§6), and where the nearest exit and water are if you're somewhere loud or hot.
§3
Substance field guide
Six substances that come up most often in questions about the ordinance, grouped by whether they fall under it. This is not dosing guidance. It's what to know about the shape and risks of the experience.
This is not an exhaustive list. Other plant- and fungi-derived psychedelics exist, including ayahuasca (a brewed combination of Banisteriopsis caapi and a DMT-containing plant such as Psychotria viridis), iboga/ibogaine, Salvia divinorum, morning glory and Hawaiian baby woodrose seeds (LSA), Amanita muscaria, and Syrian rue. Whether any given plant would fall under the ordinance depends on its exact legal language, covered in §5. If you don't see something here, that's an omission, not a judgment. This guide will be updated as the policy develops.
Would be covered if the ordinance passes: plant or fungi derived
Legal in licensed settings only
Psilocybin mushrooms
Classic psychedelic, fungus
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Psilocybin mushrooms
Would be covered if the ordinance passes.
Effects typically build over 20–40 minutes and last 4–6 hours, with a tapering "afterglow." Nausea early on is common.
- Watch for
- Anxiety spikes, disorientation in unfamiliar spaces, and psychologically difficult material surfacing. This is where a sober sitter matters most.
- Key contraindication
- Combining with SSRIs/MAOIs, or use during a serious mental health crisis. See §4.
Illegal in Oregon
Mescaline (San Pedro & other non-peyote cacti)
Classic psychedelic, cactus
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Mescaline cacti
Would be covered if the ordinance passes. Peyote itself is excluded, see below.
Onset is slow, often 1–2 hours, and commonly preceded by nausea. The full experience runs long, typically 10–14 hours.
- Watch for
- Significant nausea and vomiting in the first hour or two, and a duration that requires clearing your entire day and evening.
- Key contraindication
- Same as other classic psychedelics: SSRIs/MAOIs, personal or family history of psychosis, and cardiovascular strain at higher intensities. See §4.
Explicitly excluded from the proposed ordinance
Excluded from the ordinance
Peyote
Classic psychedelic, cactus
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Peyote
Would not be covered, even though it's plant-derived.
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is a slow-growing cactus native to a small range in the U.S. Southwest and northern Mexico. It's already under conservation pressure from over-harvesting, and federal law protects its use for bona fide traditional ceremonial purposes by members of federally recognized tribes.
- Why it's excluded
- PPSAF and most reform advocates leave peyote out of deprioritization efforts specifically to avoid adding pressure to an at-risk plant and to respect Indigenous religious and cultural stewardship. Mescaline occurs in other, non-threatened cacti, so excluding peyote does not require excluding mescaline itself. The proposed ordinance also excludes anything derived from threatened or endangered species.
Would not be covered: synthetic, kept here for general risk reduction
Illegal in Oregon
LSD
Classic psychedelic, synthetic
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LSD
Synthetic. Would not be covered by the ordinance.
Onset is slower than most people expect (30–90 min) and the full experience runs 8–12 hours. Redosing before onset is a common cause of overwhelming trips.
- Watch for
- Duration catches people off guard. Plan your whole day and night around it, not just the "peak."
- Key contraindication
- Personal or family history of psychosis; combining with stimulants raises cardiovascular strain. See §4.
Illegal in Oregon
MDMA
Entactogen / stimulant, synthetic
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MDMA
Synthetic. Would not be covered by the ordinance.
Onset 30–60 minutes, main effects last 3–5 hours, with a stimulant "comedown" after. Raises body temperature and heart rate.
- Watch for
- Overheating in hot or crowded spaces, and over-drinking water. Sip steadily, don't chug. Take breaks from dancing to cool down.
- Key contraindication
- SSRIs/MAOIs (serotonin syndrome risk), heart conditions, and combining with other stimulants. See §4.
Illegal outside medical use
Ketamine
Dissociative, synthetic
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Ketamine
Synthetic. Would not be covered by the ordinance.
Onset is fast (minutes) and the core experience is short, typically 45–90 minutes, but coordination and judgment stay impaired well after the peak passes.
- Watch for
- Loss of physical coordination. Sit or lie down before effects build. Never near water, heights, traffic, or anything you'd need to react to. If someone is unresponsive, put them on their side in the recovery position so vomiting can't block their airway.
- Key contraindication
- Alcohol and other sedatives compound the coordination and breathing risks severely. See §4.
§4
Interactions & contraindications
Most serious harms in this space come from combinations, not from a single substance alone. This list is general, so always check with a pharmacist or doctor about your specific medications.
| Combination | Risk | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics + SSRIs/SNRIs | Blunted or unpredictable effects | Can dull the experience or, less commonly, contribute to serotonin syndrome. Don't stop a prescribed medication without medical guidance. |
| MDMA or psychedelics + MAOIs | Serotonin syndrome | A potentially life-threatening reaction. This combination should be avoided. |
| Classic psychedelics + lithium | Seizures, including status epilepticus | Roughly half of documented case reports of this combination involved seizures, and many needed emergency care. Avoid entirely. Don't stop a prescribed medication without medical guidance. |
| Classic psychedelics or MDMA + tramadol | Seizures and serotonin syndrome | Tramadol both lowers the seizure threshold and acts on serotonin, so it carries the two risks at once. |
| Ketamine + alcohol or other sedatives | Respiratory depression, vomiting and aspiration | Compounds loss of coordination and can suppress breathing, and vomiting while unresponsive can block the airway. Put anyone who is unresponsive on their side, in the recovery position. This is one of the higher-risk combinations covered here. |
| MDMA + stimulants (caffeine, cocaine, ADHD meds) | Cardiovascular strain | Additive strain on heart rate and blood pressure, plus higher overheating risk. |
| Any of these + existing heart conditions | Elevated cardiac risk | Heart rate and blood pressure changes are more dangerous with pre-existing cardiovascular issues. |
| Any of these + personal/family history of psychosis | Risk of triggering psychosis | Classic psychedelics in particular carry elevated risk for people with this history. |
| Any of these + pregnancy | Unknown/high risk | Effects on a developing fetus are not well studied. Avoid. |
§5
Know the law
Psychedelic law in Oregon operates on three layers right now: state, county, and city. The ordinance itself is narrow, so here's exactly where its line sits.
What the ordinance covers
The ordinance would be limited to plant- and fungi-derived psychoactive medicines: psilocybin mushrooms, and mescaline from non-peyote cacti such as San Pedro and Peruvian torch. Nothing synthetic falls under it, and peyote is specifically carved out even though it's a plant, as is anything derived from threatened or endangered species.
Peyote is excluded on purpose
Despite being plant-derived, peyote would not be covered. It's a slow-growing, conservation-sensitive cactus, and federal law protects its use for bona fide traditional ceremonial purposes by members of federally recognized tribes. PPSAF excludes it deliberately, at the request of Indigenous communities, to avoid adding demand pressure to an already-strained plant and to respect Indigenous stewardship over it. Anything derived from threatened or endangered species is excluded on the same reasoning. See §3 for more detail.
LSD, MDMA, and ketamine are not part of this ordinance
These are synthetic, not plant- or fungi-derived, so they would fall outside the ordinance's scope entirely regardless of how enforcement priorities shift. We keep general risk-reduction information about them in §3 because people use them and deserve accurate safety information, but the ordinance itself does not touch their legal status.
Psilocybin: legal, but only in a licensed setting
Under Oregon's Psilocybin Services Act (Measure 109), adults 21+ can legally use psilocybin, but only with a licensed facilitator at a licensed service center. Possession, cultivation, or use outside that system remains illegal under state law, separate from anything the ordinance does.
Underlying state law: illegal outside licensed psilocybin use
Oregon's 2020 decriminalization measure (Measure 110) was rolled back by House Bill 4002, effective September 1, 2024. Simple possession of small amounts of most other drugs, including the plant and fungi medicines this ordinance covers, is once again a misdemeanor under state law, though many counties, including Multnomah, offer deflection into treatment instead of prosecution for eligible cases.
The Portland Psychedelic Health & Safety Act
Separately from state law, PPSAF is organizing for the Portland Psychedelic Health & Safety Act (Ordinance 2026-186, proposed as Chapter 14B.140 of Portland City Code). It would make personal, non-commercial cultivation, possession, and gifting of natural psychedelics among the city's lowest law enforcement priorities. It would keep the prohibition on commercial sales in place, and would not affect enforcement around sales or manufacturing, possession or distribution in schools, driving under the influence, or possessing a weapon while under the influence. A local deprioritization ordinance doesn't change state law. It directs how city resources and officer discretion are used. City Council holds the First Reading September 9, 2026.
This section is a plain-language summary, not legal advice, and drug laws change. If you're facing a legal situation, talk to a lawyer.
§6
If things go sideways
Most difficult experiences pass with reassurance, a calm space, and time. Some need more. Here's how to tell the difference.
For a difficult trip
Move to a quieter, dimmer space if possible. Remind the person where they are, that it's the substance, and that it will pass. Stay calm. Your presence is regulating. Don't leave them alone.
Chest pain, seizure, unresponsiveness, or extreme overheating
These are medical emergencies regardless of what was taken. Tell responders exactly what was used. They need to know in order to treat you safely.
911Fireside Project: Psychedelic Support Line
Free, confidential peer support during or after a psychedelic experience. Not for medical emergencies. Call 911 for those.
(623) 473-7433Daily, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. PT
§7
Resources directory
Verify hours before relying on any of these in a real-time crisis, since nonprofit hours can shift.
Crisis & peer support
- 988 Suicide & Crisis LifelineCall or text 988. 24/7, national.
- Fireside Project(623) 473-7433, psychedelic peer support, daily 11am to 11pm PT.
- Lines for Life: Alcohol & Drug Helpline1-800-923-4357, 24/7, Oregon. Free, confidential support and treatment referral.
Testing & supplies
- DanceSafeReagent test kits, fentanyl test strips, drug-checking info, and mail-in Transparency Testing: dancesafe.org.
- DrugsDataSearchable archive of independent lab results, formerly EcstasyData. Mail-in submissions have been paused since 2024, so use it as an archive rather than a testing service: drugsdata.org.
- Zendo ProjectOn-site psychedelic peer support at events and festivals: zendoproject.org.
Trip reports & further reading
- ErowidLong-running archive of first-person trip reports and substance information: erowid.org.
Research you can join
- UCSF CANOPY Project (Carhart-Harris Lab)Carhart-Harris Lab (UCSF) study on real-world psychedelic use across settings, home, retreat, service center, or ceremony: carhartharrislab.com/studies.
Licensed services (Oregon)
- Oregon Health Authority: Psilocybin ServicesDirectory of licensed facilitators and service centers.
Policy & advocacy
- PPSAFPortland Psychedelic Society Action Fund, the 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizing for this ordinance. Endorse the Act, volunteer, or get campaign updates: yesfornaturalmedicine.org/get-involved.
- Drug Policy AllianceNational research and advocacy on drug policy reform.
This guide is published by the Portland Psychedelic Society Action Fund (PPSAF), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization. It is not a publication of the City of Portland, and it has not been reviewed, endorsed, or adopted by the City of Portland or Portland City Council.
This guide is for general education and is not a substitute for medical care, legal counsel, or a licensed facilitator. Effect durations and risk information are general ranges. This guide does not tell anyone how much of anything to take. If you're in a medical emergency, call 911.
First Reading September 9
This is bigger than one vote
Portland City Council holds the First Reading of the Health & Safety Act on September 9. See why our organization exists, or take action before the Reading.