Oregon Measure 109: The Psilocybin Services Act

What Oregon Measure 109 does

Oregon Measure 109 created the first legal psilocybin program in the United States. Voters approved it on November 3, 2020, with about 56% support. The law is officially called the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act.

The measure does one main thing. It lets adults 21 and older take psilocybin at a state-licensed service center while a trained facilitator supervises. It does not decriminalize psilocybin for personal use.

This is "supported adult use," not prescribed medical care. You do not need a diagnosis, and facilitators are not required to be doctors or therapists. The state calls this a wellness service, not a treatment.

Why it matters in 2026

Oregon is now several years into a working program, so it serves as the country's longest-running legal model. Other states study its rules, costs, and access gaps before writing their own. The program also stands apart because it serves any qualified adult, not just patients with a specific condition.

How the service-center model works

Measure 109 allows psilocybin use only at a licensed service center with a facilitator present. You cannot take psilocybin home, and there is no retail store or mail order. All use happens on-site, in person.

A standard experience has three parts:

• Preparation: a meeting to set expectations and screen for safety.
• Administration: the dosing session itself, which can run several hours.
• Integration: an optional follow-up to make sense of the experience.

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) runs the program through its Oregon Psilocybin Services section. OHA licenses four roles: facilitators, service centers, manufacturers, and testing labs. Learn what psilocybin is in our psilocybin guide.

What is not allowed

Buying psilocybin in a store is not allowed. Neither is possessing it on your own, growing it, or carrying it outside a service center. Driving under the influence and any use by people under 21 stay illegal.

Who can access it

Any adult 21 or older can access Oregon's psilocybin program, with no medical diagnosis required. You do not need a prescription or a doctor's referral. You only need to complete a preparation session first.

A facilitator can still decline service for safety reasons. The intake asks about certain heart conditions, some medications, and a personal or family history of psychosis. This screening protects clients, not gate access by illness.

Who can become a facilitator

Oregon's facilitator path does not require a clinical license like a medical degree or a therapy license. This "lay-facilitator" model is a defining feature of Measure 109. Almost any qualified adult can train for the role.

To get licensed, applicants finish a state-approved training program, complete practicum hours, pass an exam, and apply to OHA. The path is open to people without a healthcare background. See our guide on how to become a psychedelic therapist for the training routes and how they compare.

What a session costs

A supervised psilocybin session in Oregon typically costs about $1,000 to $3,000 or more. Price depends on the dose, the length of support, and whether preparation and integration are bundled in. Group sessions can cost less.

Insurance does not cover it. Because psilocybin is still illegal under federal law, health plans will not reimburse these sessions. Clients pay the full amount out of pocket, which is the single biggest access barrier people report.

Where you can (and cannot) go

Measure 109 legalized psilocybin services statewide, but it let cities and counties opt out by local vote. Many did. In November 2022, voters in 23 counties and 111 cities passed bans, mostly east of the Cascades.

This is the most overlooked detail in the law. Statewide legalization did not mean statewide access. Service centers cluster in and around larger, pro-program areas like Portland, Bend, Eugene, and Ashland. Much of rural Oregon has no licensed center at all.

So a "yes" vote statewide still left a patchwork map. Before you plan a trip, confirm the center's city allows services and holds a current OHA license. Our legal status by state tool shows where each state stands.

Oregon vs. Colorado: how they differ

Oregon and Colorado both run licensed, supervised psilocybin programs, and neither allows retail sales. The big differences are decriminalization and how many substances each program can include. The table compares the two.

When Oregon fits better: if you want the more mature program with more operating centers and the longest track record today. When Colorado fits better: if you want the option to legally grow and hold your own, or you care about future ibogaine or DMT access. See the Colorado Proposition 122 guide for that side.

Timeline of the rollout

• November 3, 2020: Voters approve Measure 109 (~56% yes).
• 2021–2022: A two-year development period to write the program rules.
• November 2022: 23 counties and 111 cities pass local opt-out bans.
• December 27, 2022: OHA publishes the final program rules.
• January 2, 2023: Oregon begins accepting license applications.
• Summer 2023: First licensed service centers open and dose their first clients.

Federal law and the limits

Psilocybin remains Schedule I under federal law. That means it is illegal at the federal level, and Oregon's law does not change that. Federal agents could still enforce federal law, though they have not targeted Oregon's program.

Measure 109 also does not make Oregon a place to buy psilocybin or use it anywhere you like. There is no store, no mail order, and no public use. For where the rest of the country stands, see our guide to where magic mushrooms are legal.