The resolution, the majority of which was drafted by Bay Staters and DN Massachusetts and edited to conform to Somerville’s mayor-council system of municipal government, calls for local law enforcement not to use “any city funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of laws imposing criminal penalties” for the possession and use of entheogenic plants. “There wasn’t a lot of direct support, aspects of the resolution were inspired by Ann Arbor, but our local officials worked with us to make many changes and improvements.” Davis noted that this included adding wording about the low priority of enforcing punishment or detention for any controlled substance. “Larry and Carlos deserve a shout out, but so do the many unsung heroes who worked their tails off for a brighter future,” says Davis.

James Davis, a lead organizer for Bay Staters for Natural Medicine and DN MA and one of the initial Somerville constituents to approach Council, emphasized that the end result was accomplished with the help of a much larger community rather than with the assistance of a single individual or group. “With just a small amount of early support from the national team, the DN MA leadership team moved quickly and effectively in identifying which city (Somerville) was ready to be the first in Massachusetts to pass the resolution and working collaboratively with their city council,” he adds. The Somerville measure was led by Decriminalize Nature Massachusetts (DN MA) and Bay Staters for Natural Medicine, who were in turn supported by Larry Norris and Carlos Plazola, co-founders of DN Oakland.ĭN’s national board leadership provided “support in the form of organizing materials,” including the DN Oakland resolution template and sample support letters, to DN MA, according to Norris. The second city on the East Coast to support decriminalization after Ann Arbor, Michigan, which moved to decriminalize last September, Somerville’s City Council unanimously approved the measure on January 14 in a 9-0 vote that was also supported by the mayor.Īs with other cities that have embraced decrim initiatives, the resolution was crafted with the help of the area’s Decriminalize Nature chapter and its allied organizations. Somerville, Massachusetts has joined cities across the United States that have passed resolutions decriminalizing entheogenic plants and fungi.

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