A handful of Philomath residents turned out Thursday night for a city-hosted open house to provide input and ask questions about the possibility of psilocybin-related businesses coming to town at some point in the future.
The overriding theme for the evening appeared to be caution — the need for more data to come forward on psilocybin treatments and impacts on communities before any long-term decisions could be made.
City councilors share views on psilocybin in Philomath
The Philomath City Council continued its review of psilocybin regulation options during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday and approved two draft ordinances — one to impose reasonable time, place and manner regulations on an operation and the other that declares a ban with the issue to be referred to voters. Councilors offered a range of…
City Manager Chris Workman and City Councilor Christopher McMorran opened the meeting by providing background information on two ordinances that the council will take a second-reading vote on during its Nov. 25 meeting:
- Time, place and manner restrictions to implement if voters approve of psilocybin-related businesses in Philomath.
- Maintaining the city’s declaration of a ban that was established two years ago and putting the issue on the ballot for the November 2026 general election.
“If the ban that goes out to the voters in 2026 is not approved by the electorate … then these time, place and manner restrictions would become operative,” Workman explained. “If Philomath is in favor of a ban … these time, place and manner restrictions are moot.”
Fifteen people attended the open house at City Hall — seven citizens, five city councilors, the city manager, the chief of police and a news reporter. Others with an interest could watch the open house through the city’s YouTube channel.
A few of the citizens in attendance showed concern that Philomath could become a focal point for treatment if a ban is not in place. With so few psilocybin service centers operating in the state — 31 appears to be the most-recent count — then the high majority of those seeking treatment would likely come in from other cities or even states.
In this immediate vicinity, there are single psilocybin service centers in Corvallis and Albany.
Said one resident, “To me, it sounds like an interesting and potentially very positive alternative to some of the manufactured drugs. I think it would be a good avenue to explore.”
Overall, there were various concerns about how such a business could impact the community. In short, more solid information needs to come forward.
“I think what you’re hearing from the panel up here is we don’t have a lot more sure data on it today than what we did two years ago,” Workman summarized. “In another two years … the public might be better informed and be able to make a more informed and educational decision about it. I would argue that for both people in favor and opposed.”
The state requires that psilocybin-related businesses cannot be located within 1,000 feet of schools or within a residence and limited to general commercial zones (service centers) or industrial sites (manufacturing). Philomath councilors added to those restrictions to include within 1,000 people of a library or public park, a decision that was questioned by at least one resident in the open house audience.
City Councilor Diane Crocker said the decision to include the library and parks came about because there are often unsupervised children at those locations.
“There are definitely understandable qualms about psilocybin — people harming children while on it doesn’t strike me as one but if there’s data I don’t know, maybe there are instances where that is happening,” said a local woman, later adding, “I don’t see psilocybin centers as a threat to children.”
Crocker said not much data exists with the first psilocybin center in Oregon not opening until 2023.
“A good trip, they’re going to be fine; they’re going to go home and be helped,” Crocker said, citing research that she had done on the topic. “But the bad trip brings up paranoia and aggression and that is one of the side effects if they react negatively to it … That’s where it would be a concern for everyone, not just children.”
City Councilor Ruth Causey added that because psilocybin patients would be able to leave the service center at any time — she said that like a hospital, they are not held against their will if the effects of treatment are still being experienced — an extra level of protection for children felt appropriate.
Philomath Police Chief Dave Gurski said he has talked to law enforcement agencies in Corvallis and Albany and they had no psilocybin-related calls for service in the short time they’ve been in operation.
An OregonLive article published last week reported that service centers in the state have called 911 or or taken an individual to a hospital five times during the approximately 15 months since the state’s facility opened.
The local resident felt the time, place and manner restrictions under consideration seemed overly cautious. “I think there’s so much fear around this and I think so much of this fear is unfounded and unnecessary,” she said, adding that she hopes any restrictions could be walked back, if needed.
Oregon became the first state nationally to legalize psilocybin as a treatment option when Measure 109 was approved by voters in 2020, including by a 57-43 margin in Philomath’s precinct. The measure directed the Oregon Health Authority to create a framework to regulate and issue licenses for manufacturing, testing, sales and use in supervised settings.
However, the state allowed cities and counties to opt out and Philomath was among those that banned it in 2022.
Based on previous decisions and conversations, it appears likely that the City Council will extend the ban at least until the Nov. 3, 2026 general election when it goes back to the voters. Earlier this month, Oregon voters banned psilocybin in 16 of 17 jurisdictions where it appeared on the ballot — Nehalem was the only city to reject the ban (by a mere three votes).
According to the OHA, research suggests that treatments may help address depression, anxiety, trauma and addiction.
“Overall, I don’t think an extra two years is going to hurt the city of Philomath and in some ways, I think it may allow for a more informed decision about whether to enact a permanent ban or … allow for psilocybin in the community under those time, place, manner restrictions,” Workman said. “I think what we’re hearing from the elected officials is we are concerned about the public’s perception of this and we want to make sure that we’re protecting the public.”
Workman said he has not been approached by any prospective psilocybin-related businesses wanting to locate in Philomath.
