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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2026

Contact:
Email: info@psychedelickc.org
Website: www.psychedelickc.org

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Psychedelic Society of Kansas City (PSKC) is recognizing today’s passage of Ordinance 251028 by the Kansas City Council as a major step toward more targeted, sensible drug policy—after key overbroad and punitive provisions were removed during Tuesday’s Finance & Public Safety Committee hearing.

At the committee hearing earlier this week, PSKC President Dale Morgan and Brian Wohlman, a PSKC volunteer and psychology student at Missouri Western University, voiced their concerns and opposition to the ordinance as originally drafted.

Their testimony focused specifically on:

  • The sweeping ban on “novel psychoactive substances”
  • Language criminalizing the description of the effects of banned substances
  • Minimum mandatory jail time
  • Broad bans on analogues using vague similarity standards
  • The re-establishment of a drug paraphernalia prohibition

All five provisions were struck down by the committee. A modified version of the ordinance was then forwarded to the full City Council, where it passed today.

What Remains in the Final Ordinance

The ordinance as passed retains bans on:

  • 7-OH (7-Hydroxymitragynine)
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Amyl nitrates

PSKC views the removal of the most overbroad and punitive elements as a meaningful improvement.

“We came to the committee deeply concerned that the original ordinance would revive the worst instincts of the War on Drugs—vague definitions, punishment-first enforcement, and even treating education as criminal evidence,” said Dale Morgan, President of PSKC’s Board of Directors. “The fact that those provisions were struck down is a real win for Kansas City. It shows that the City can pursue safety without criminalizing speech, harm reduction, or legally operating small businesses.”

A Victory for Sensible Drug Policy

PSKC characterizes the committee’s revisions and today’s outcome as a significant victory for public health, civil liberties, and pragmatic governance. The removal of mandatory minimum jail time, analogue bans, and the paraphernalia prohibition reflects a more measured approach than the ordinance’s initial draft.

However, PSKC remains philosophically opposed to outright bans as a primary policy tool.

“We believe regulation and oversight are almost always more effective than prohibition,” Morgan added. “Kansas City’s decision to establish a licensing process for kratom rather than banning it outright is a model worth building on. We hope regulators will work toward a similar licensing framework for 7OH in the future—one that emphasizes consumer safety, quality control, and accountability.”

Moving Forward

PSKC urges city leaders to continue prioritizing:

  • Clear and narrowly tailored definitions
  • Civil and regulatory enforcement mechanisms
  • Harm reduction and public education
  • Licensing and quality-control systems where appropriate

PSKC stands ready to collaborate with policymakers, public health experts, business owners, and community stakeholders to craft policies that improve safety while respecting rights and evidence-based practice.

About PSKC

The Psychedelic Society of Kansas City is a community-based, educational nonprofit dedicated to harm reduction, evidence-based drug policy, and responsible, informed use of psychoactive substances. PSKC hosts public education events, supports peer-based harm reduction initiatives, and works with community partners to promote compassionate, science-driven approaches to drug use and mental health.

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