Voters in Four States Chose to Continue Infringing on the Right to Self-Medicate

In his recent blog post, Dr. Jeffrey Singer highlights a significant disconnect between democracy and personal freedom regarding self-medication rights. Citing philosopher Jessica Flanigan, he asserts that autonomous adults have the fundamental right to self-medicate, a principle acknowledged and venerated by Congress as recently as 1938.

Recent voter decisions in four states, however, reveal a troubling trend: many voters chose to maintain criminal penalties for recreational marijuana and psychedelics, undermining individual autonomy. Voters in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Florida democratically rejected measures to relax marijuana laws, while Massachusetts democratically upheld restrictions on psychedelics, despite their potential benefits for treating mental health issues like depression and PTSD.

As states like Colorado and Oregon make strides in reducing barriers to psychedelic use, the majority of Massachusetts voters opted to keep existing barriers. Singer emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on personal freedoms alongside democratic processes.

If you would like to speak with Dr. Singer, please feel free to reach out.