Thank you for asking! We would love your help and encourage you to participate in those options below that most resonate with you. Before diving in, however, we highly recommend reading through our website, especially the FAQ page. We want to make sure our message is clear and focused.  

 

Sign Up for Our Newsletter​

And encourage friends to do the same! We share updates and upcoming events through this communication channel. You can also find and like us on Facebook under Port Townsend Psychedelic Society and follow us on Instagram under porttownsendpsychedelicsociety. 

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Attend City Council and County Commissioner Meetings

Near the beginning of each meeting, there is an opportunity for public comments during which each person who wants to speak receives three minutes to do so (occasionally shortened to two if there are too many people in one session). We, unfortunately, cannot attend every meeting and it really helps for our city and county officials to be hearing regularly about this issue and learning that many people care about it. They are our representatives and do their best to represent our voices in their decisions - so we need to make our voices heard so that passing this resolution becomes easy for them. 

 

They've shared that it is more effective if supporters show up spread over various meetings, as opposed to us all showing up in one meeting so that they hear from us consistently and so that there is more time for people to speak. That said, if there are every any particular meetings during which attendance is especially important (even if you don't speak), we will announce those in advance via the newsletter.

 

So, if you feel inspired to speak aloud about these things, bring yourself and/or a few friends to one of the following meetings:

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City Council Meeting​

1st and 3rd Mondays at 6:30pm
City Hall Council Chambers

540 Water Street 2nd Floor

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Board of Commissioner's Meeting 

First 4 Mondays of every month at 9:00am (except on holidays, in which case the meeting moves to the same time on Tuesday)
The Commissioners' Chambers, in the basement of the County Courthouse
1820 Jefferson St, Port Townsend, WA 98368

You might also find it informative to first watch the Oakland city council meeting in which the Decriminalize Nature resolution passed: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHd1cLDKaa4

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Write Letters

Not into public speaking or is writing a passion of yours? Writing letters to the county commissioners and city council is just as effective as showing up in person. Don't let the pressure to write a masterpiece hold you back. Feel free to draw from our website, the talking points list below, and our FAQ, even word for word (copy and pasting from our website into a letter still lets officials know which reasons for decriminalization matter most to you). While it's wonderful if you write things in your own words, add further reasons for passing the resolution, and/or share your personal stories, the most important thing is that our officials know you care and support this resolution. 

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You can either email them or drop off/mail a letter to the following:

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Port Townsend City Council

Email: citycouncil@cityofpt.us

Mail Letters to (or drop off at): City Hall, 250 Madison Street, Port Townsend 98368.

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Jefferson County Commissioners

Email: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us

Mail Letters to (or drop off at): P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368

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Or, write a Letter to the Editor to our local newspaper, The Leader: https://www.ptleader.com/forms/letters/

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Raise Awareness
Help spread information about this movement via social media, in conversation with friends, and at events or gatherings. Let them know about our website so that they can learn more about how to get involved. If anyone isn't familiar with these medicines or their potential, perhaps recommend Michael Pollan's book How to Change Your Mind - it's an easy and accessibe read, full of recent research. 

Bring attention to the importance and relevance of this resolution to groups of which you are part. Examples might include social justice groups, activist groups, environmental groups, natural science groups, political groups, local churches, medical and/or mental health organizations, volunteer organizations, various psychospiritual groups, veteran organizations, men's/women's groups, and so forth. If you aren't sure how this resolution is pertinent to groups of which you are part, please reach out to us for ideas and support. Group endorsements are also immensely helpful. 

Canvas at various locales to talk with people, pass out flyers, and collect petition signatures. 

Rally those you know who already care deeply about these medicines to join in and participate .

Show up
Come to events and show your support. We will be launching monthly Psychedelic Society meetings in January 2020, so stay tuned!

Influence

If you are a local health professional (doctor, nurse, therapist, etc), voicing your support for this resolution could be particularly influential in helping legitimize the movement. Consider writing a letter in support, or joining with other health professionals to write a joint letter signed by all. 

 

Volunteer
If you are interested in volunteering with Port Townsend Psychedelic Society, please reach out to us at porttownsendpsychedelicsociety@gmail.com. We could especially use help with social media, political outreach, organizing fundraiser type events to get people involved and excited about the resolution, and offering public educational presentations about entheogens (to the general public as well as to specific groups). 

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Talking Point Ideas

• Reread through our FAQ and select those points that feel most important to you

• If you feel comfotable, share your own transformative experiences and testimonials (you don't have to say where you had your experiences and there are legal places to partake in all these medicines - but do take care to respect the confidentiality of others)

• Add your own unique perspective on why Port Townsend/Jefferson County is an ideal place to model decriminalization, describing resources in this town that support this type of work (community structures, healthy food systems, holistic health care, embodiment practices, and so forth)

• Correct misinformation that has been spread about entheogens; share scientific studies, wisdom from indigenous peoples working with these plants, and experiential reports

• Express how responsible use of entheogens can strengthen community and how healing oneself often increases one's desire to be of service to others

• Emphasize the importance of educating and empowering people to make their own decisions about their healing path

• Discuss the importance of decriminalization in encouraging a respectful and supportive relationship between those offering this healing work and local law enforcement

• Highlight how this resolution promotes being able to grow and share (not sell) these plants, preventing commodification and promoting access for all

• Speak to the importance of having local safe and supportive contexts for entheogenic use to mitigate the risks and costs of traveling to other countries to do medicine work, as well as the risks of taking entheogens outside such contexts

• Explain how decriminalization increases the potential for beneficial use through education about potential risks, providing supportive environments and community support, and increasing preparation and integration resources

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Thank you so much for your support!