In an unexpected twist on city governance, Mayors William C. Reichelt of West Springfield and Joshua A. Garcia of Holyoke have become unlikely champions of Question 4, which proposes to legalize psychedelics for therapeutic use. Apparently, they believe that swapping out the usual municipal toolkit of road repairs and zoning ordinances for a splash of psychedelic therapy might just be the secret sauce in tackling some pressing community challenges. These include mental health issues manifesting as panhandling and homelessness, which, let’s face it, are problems that no amount of “keep off the grass” signs or parking meters can solve. So, these two forward-thinking leaders are ready to dive into the psychedelic realm, hoping that a little bit of controlled tripping might lead to a whole lot of healing.
Published Date: 2024-10-28