Which cities in District of Columbia have decriminalized psilocybin?

District-wide (Initiative 81). Important distinction: these are deprioritization measures, not decriminalization. State law is unchanged, possession remains a criminal offense, prosecutors keep their discretion, and federal jurisdiction is untouched.

Where is the nearest place to District of Columbia that psilocybin is legal?

Colorado. Neither Oregon nor Colorado has a residency requirement, so people do travel for supervised sessions. You cannot legally bring psilocybin home — possession outside the licensed system is a crime in both states, and transporting it across state lines is a federal offense.

Does District of Columbia law override federal law on psilocybin?

No. Psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and federal law applies in every state regardless of state programs. A state license protects you under state law only.

Is psilocybin legal in District of Columbia?

Local deprioritization only

State guide · checked against primary sourcesReviewedAug 30, 2026

No. Psilocybin is illegal under District of Columbia law. Some cities have told police to deprioritize enforcement, which is not legalization and does not protect you from arrest or federal charges.

As of 30 August 2026, psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. It has not been approved by the FDA and has not been rescheduled by the DEA. A state program protects you under state law only.

Status in District of Columbia: Local deprioritization only
Federal status: Schedule I
Key law: Initiative 81, Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act (2021)
Nearest legal access: Colorado

What the law says in the District

Still illegal. Initiative 81, approved by 76% of voters, makes enforcement against entheogenic plants and fungi the police department's lowest priority and urges prosecutors not to charge. Arrest and federal prosecution remain legally possible.

Key law: Initiative 81, Entheogenic Plant and Fungus Policy Act (2021).

Local measures, and what each one actually does

These get listed together as though they were the same thing. They are not. A ballot ordinance is binding city law; a council resolution is a statement of priorities; a motion can simply record support for a practice already in place.

District-wide (Initiative 81)

If you are looking for legal access

The nearest legal option to District of Columbia is Colorado

Colorado runs a licensed supervised-access program with no residency requirement, so people do travel for sessions. Expect roughly $1,000–$3,500 out of pocket — no insurer covers it.

You cannot lawfully bring psilocybin back to District of Columbia. Possession outside the licensed system is a crime in Colorado too, and carrying it across state lines is a federal offense.

What a session costs Colorado rules

This entry records the absence of reform rather than a specific program, so it rests on the state’s controlled-substances schedule rather than a source we link. If District of Columbia has changed something we have missed, tell us — corrections are published with a dated note.

Common questions

Psilocybin in District of Columbia

Is psilocybin legal in District of Columbia?: No. Psilocybin is illegal under District of Columbia law. Some cities have told police to deprioritize enforcement, which is not legalization and does not protect you from arrest or federal charges. As of 30 August 2026, psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act. It has not been approved by the FDA and has not been rescheduled by the DEA.
Which cities in District of Columbia have decriminalized psilocybin?: District-wide (Initiative 81). Important distinction: these are deprioritization measures, not decriminalization. State law is unchanged, possession remains a criminal offense, prosecutors keep their discretion, and federal jurisdiction is untouched.
Where is the nearest place to District of Columbia that psilocybin is legal?: Colorado. Neither Oregon nor Colorado has a residency requirement, so people do travel for supervised sessions. You cannot legally bring psilocybin home — possession outside the licensed system is a crime in both states, and transporting it across state lines is a federal offense.
Does District of Columbia law override federal law on psilocybin?: No. Psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, and federal law applies in every state regardless of state programs. A state license protects you under state law only.

Compare

Other states with local deprioritization only

Same legal category, different detail. The differences matter.

All 50 states and DC

What people ask next

When will psilocybin be available on prescription? — the pipeline, by clinical phase.
How does it compare with ketamine and MDMA? — one of those is already approved.
What can I actually do in the meantime? — what the evidence supports today.

This is not legal advice. Drug law changes quickly, applies differently depending on quantity and circumstance, and federal law applies everywhere regardless of state status. Entry last reviewed August 30, 2026.

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Psilocybin Research. (2026). Is psilocybin legal in District of Columbia. Last reviewed August 30, 2026. https://psilocybinresearch.com/psilocybin-legal-in-district-of-columbia