Mental health treatment has had decades of slow advancement and limited treatment options for many patients. In the past several years, psilocybin mushrooms have been proven to have numerous benefits in treating disorders such as PTSD, depression, and addiction. Traditional drug treatments, along with many side effects, have an effectiveness rate between 10 and 25 percent, whereas the first round of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research found an 83 percent level of effectiveness.

Because of the promising research, Oregon activists worked hard to see the legalization of psilocybin for mental health treatment, which would allow mental health centers to begin incorporating it into their care plans.

In Nov. 2020, Oregon voters passed Measure 109, making it the first state to legalize psilocybin. The measure will allow therapeutic uses of the psychedelic in regulated settings and has a built-in two-year period to iron out the details for qualifications.