Silo Retreat Participants Advocate for Psilocybin Legalization in Oregon

November 14, 2022 –

With election results called for most of Oregon’s races, it’s become clear where the therapeutic use of psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, will be available.

Measure 109, legalizing the use of psilocybin in controlled and therapeutic settings, was passed by Oregon voters in 2020. The measure allowed municipalities to opt out of legalizing by sending it to their voters again.

The 25 counties seen in red on the below map voted to opt out along with over 100 cities.

During meetings leading up to the election, many of the state’s rural county and city officials expressed concerns that allowing the hallucinogen in controlled settings would open up a door for black market manufacturing and sales.

“I do have concerns we are a little head shy about time, place and manner because of what happened with marijuana,” said Jackson County Commissioner Colleen Roberts during a July meeting.

Some officials expressed concerns that rolling out the rules would be a trial-and-error process.

“I just know how bad the state stumbled with the rollout of the marijuana stuff, being involved with that first hand,” said McMinnville City Councilor Adam Garvin.

The city ended up sending it back to voters, who elected to opt out.

Advocates for the treatment argue that unlike marijuana, magic mushrooms can be cultivated in a small indoor space, providing little incentive to illegal growers to create a legal front in states that allow the substance. Advocates also say the substance could save lives as some research shows it’s been effective in aiding with depression, PTSD and addiction.

Bob and Amber Parnell are both veterans and have been married 27 years. In June, the two attended a psilocybin treatment in Jamaica, where it’s legal.

“Amber had reserved the experience or the retreat because I suffered from alcoholism,” Bob said explaining that re-integrating into civilian life after retiring from service had left him feeling hopeless.

“At one point I was a first sergeant, and so I was responsible for people’s lives, people’s training, and I had a mission to help other soldiers,” he said. “When I retired going from military to civilian life, honestly was a shock because it wasn’t the guy on my right, and the guy on my left are looking out for me. The guy on my right and the guy on my left are looking to stab me in the back so they can take my position.”

He said that, coupled with the lack of structure that exacerbated his ADHD, triggered him to drink excessively.

Amber Parnell said the retreat, which they attended together, not only helped him with his addiction recovery, but it also helped them in their marriage.

“He had obviously been drinking for a long time, but I didn’t know and when it kind of all exploded, he went to rehab and then to sober living, and he was gone for six months,” she said. “When he came home, I was still processing my trauma and issues. He was sober and had learned all these great tools, but he was also trying to re-integrate with the family that he had been separated from for six months. We were struggling with communication — just all kinds of things that you would expect.”

The Parnells say they feel the treatment coupled with therapy and a willingness to change could be the formula that many need to survive.

“We talked a lot about cravings and things, and he says it’s just completely different to me; it’s a life-saving thing, and I get really passionate about the fact that it’s not accessible,” Amber Parnell said … [READ MORE]