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February 12, 2026

PSKC Praises Targeted Revisions to Ordinance 251028 Following Committee Changes

Illustrated Kansas City skyline with a policy checklist for a PSKC advocacy update
Press ReleaseAdvocacy

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. 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.”

Dale Morgan, President of PSKC’s Board of Directors

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. 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.”

Dale Morgan

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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