Free The Mushroom

I love mushrooms, both edible and magic. And I’m proud to live in a state that has both regulated cannabis and psilocybin programs. I’ve seen firsthand the numerous benefits a carefully planned protocol of microdosing can provide to those struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD. And in light of the current political situation here in the U.S., that covers most of the people I know.

I’ve written about the drawbacks that still exist with Oregon’s cannabis program, including chronic oversupply, widespread consolidation, a lack of alcohol and beerfest-style tasting events, and the burden placed upon growers and processors to stay compliant. Could the program be improved? Absolutely. But I believe that we are better off having a program with such shortcomings that expands access to cannabis products to all residents (and tourists) than to not. It’s flawed, but better than what we had prior, which for some people, often BIPOC, resulted in jail time.

When Oregon passed Ballot Measure 109 in November of 2020, we became the first in the nation to legalize, and not just decriminalize, psilocybin for adult use. Good for us! On Jan. 1, 2023, the program went into effect.

Unlike cannabis, psilocybin cannot be purchased over the counter at a dispensary. Instead, those 21 and over must obtain it through a licensed service center. The center will perform an intake to assess your intentions and explain what to expect. From there, you will work with a licensed facilitator who will “guide” you through your experience on site at the service center. Mushrooms are not allowed to be taken off the premises. After you complete the session, and it’s determined you are no longer under the effects, you may leave. A follow-up session to gauge how well the psilocybin worked is scheduled afterward.

This is all fine and good, but there are some issues with the way the program has been designed that need review and revision.

First, the Oregon Psilocybin Services limits patients to a dose no higher than 50 milligrams per visit. For those adverse to the metric system, that’s half a gram, which is considered to be a microdose. This isn’t to say that every user wants, or needs, a heroic, ego-slaying macro dose. But there are conditions and individuals, especially those who are larger or more experienced, where a half gram may not be enough to address the user’s intentions.

There’s also the matter of the cost, for the user, and for the facilitator and the service center. Most service centers offer discounts for veterans and/or sliding scale discounted scholarships for those unable to pay full price. But for those paying full price, there may be sticker shock.

One Eugene-based center charges $2,500 for a facilitator, or $2,800 for a senior facilitator, and neither includes the cost of the psilocybin. But it isn’t due to greed on the part of the facilitator or center.

Rather, it’s needed to offset the prohibitively high cost of licensing that OPS charges. Those producing the mushrooms and service centers pay an initial $500 application fee, then an annual $10,000 license fee. (Nonprofit service centers see that fee reduced to $5,000.) Facilitators pay a $150 application fee, then an annual $2,000 license fee, although those on SSI, the Oregon Health Plan and other income restrictions may see that fee reduced to $1,000. But facilitators need to complete an Oregon Health Authority training program of around 168 hours that runs around $10,000. Yikes.

Last month, after industry outcry and pushback, the state rescinded its plans to double the annual fees for service centers and manufacturers to $20,000 annually. The pushback highlighted that of the 39 service center licenses issued, nearly half have been surrendered or expired.

With Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist postings often offering an ounce of a wide variety of mushrooms for $150/ounce, many people are forgoing service centers.

Restraint is not an American trait for most things, and I’m not advocating for a dispensary-style system for psilocybin. But the prohibitively high fees make access a primarily white and wealthy option. The state needs to expand access and lower costs.

This article appears in the Source October 1, 2026.