Oregon

Thousands sign up to experience magic mushrooms as Oregon’s novel psilocybin experiment takes off

Published

1 year ago

September 15, 2023

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Psilocybin tea, wind chimes and a tie-dye mattress await those coming to an office suite in Eugene to trip on magic mushrooms. For roughly six hours, adults over 21 can experience what many users describe as vivid geometric shapes, a loss of identity and a oneness with the universe.

Epic Healing Eugene — Oregon’s first licensed psilocybin service center — opened in June, marking the state’s unprecedented step in offering the mind-bending drug to the public. The center now has a waitlist of more than 3,000 names, including people with depression, PTSD or end-of-life dread.

No prescription or referral is needed, but proponents hope Oregon’s legalization will spark a revolution in mental health care.

Colorado voters last year passed a measure allowing regulated use of magic mushrooms starting in 2024, and California’s Legislature this month approved a measure that would allow possession and use of certain plant- and mushroom-based psychedelics, including psilocybin and mescaline, with plans for health officials to develop guidelines for therapeutic use.

The Oregon Psilocybin Services Section, charged with regulating the state’s industry, has received “hundreds of thousands of inquiries from all over the world,” Angela Allbee, the agency’s manager, said in an interview.

“So far, what we’re hearing is that clients have had positive experiences,” she said.

While psilocybin remains illegal in most of the United States, the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 designated it a “breakthrough therapy.” This summer, the FDA published draft guidance for researchers designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs.

Researchers believe psilocybin changes the way the brain organizes itself, helping a user adopt new attitudes and overcome mental health issues.

The Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, however, opposed Oregon’s 2020 ballot measure legalizing psilocybin, saying it “is unsafe and makes misleading promises to those Oregonians who are struggling with mental illness.”

Allbee noted that psychedelic mushrooms have been a part of tribal spiritual and healing practices for thousands of years. Her agency is focused on safety, she said.

First, customers must have a preparation session with a licensed facilitator who stays with clients as they experience the drug. The facilitator can deny access to those who have active psychosis, thoughts of harming anyone, or who have taken lithium, which is used to treat mania, in the past month.

The clients can’t buy mushrooms to go, and they must stay at the service center until the drug wears off.

Besides approving psilocybin, Oregon voters in 2020 decriminalized possession of hard drugs, cementing the state’s reputation as a leader in drug-law reform. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize marijuana possession and one of the first to legalize its recreational use.

But these days, the regulated marijuana industry is struggling with massive oversupply. And drug decriminalization has not greatly expanded addiction treatment or reduced overdoses as hoped. A new poll indicates most voters would repeal it.

It’s too early to assess Oregon’s mushroom legalization.

Oregon Psilocybin Services spent two years establishing regulations and began accepting license applications in January. There are now 10 licensed service centers, four growers, two testing labs and dozens of facilitators.

While Epic Healing Eugene has a long waitlist thanks in part to early media attention, other service centers say business is picking up as awareness spreads.

Omnia Group Ashland, which opened this month in southern Oregon, has a prospective client list of 150, said co-founder Brian Lindley. Jeanette Small, the owner of Lucid Cradle in Bend, said she intends to see only one client per week to give close attention to each and is already booked through December.

The law allows local jurisdictions to ban psilocybin operations, and several rural counties have done so.

There are complaints the cost is too high, but those in the industry expect prices to fall as more businesses are established. A client can wind up paying over $2,000, which helps cover service center expenses, a facilitator and lab-tested psilocybin. Annual licenses for service centers and growers cost $10,000, with a half-price discount for veterans.

Allbee said her agency requires every licensee to work toward social equity goals, with some already providing sliding-scale price models. She expects Oregon’s psilocybin program, currently receiving millions in taxpayer dollars, to be fully supported by licensing fees by mid-2025. She promised to then boost efforts to lower prices.

Cathy Jonas, Epic Healing Eugene’s owner, said she doesn’t expect her service center to start making money for a while. Providing legal access to psychedelic mushrooms is a calling, she said: “The plant medicines have communicated to me that I’m supposed to be doing this thing.”

State regulations allow doses of up to 50 milligrams, but when Jonas tested a 35-milligram sample of pure psilocybin — typically equal to about 6 grams of dried mushrooms — she found it so powerful that she decided it would be the most her facility would offer.

One of Jonas’ first clients took 35 milligrams and described seeing a “kind of infinite-dimension fractal that just kept turning and twisting.”

“It was kind of mesmerizing to watch, but it got so intense,” said the client, who didn’t want to be identified to protect his privacy. “I started to have this experience of dying and being reborn. And then I would kind of see large portions of my life going by in a very rapid way.”

He said the session “was not particularly pleasant,” but that it beneficially transformed how he views painful memories and provided a sought-after mystical experience.

Licensed grower Gared Hansen has come full circle from the 16 years he spent as a police officer in San Francisco. He once busted a psilocybin dealer in Golden Gate Park.

Today, he runs Uptown Fungus, a one-person psilocybin-growing operation in a nondescript building set among towering cedar trees near Springfield, Oregon. He tends mushroom varieties with names like Golden Teacher, Blue Meanies and Pink Buffalo. A 25-milligram dose costs $125.

Hansen said he sometimes meditates with the mushrooms, hoping to imbue them with healing energy.

Little, brown psychedelic mushrooms can be found growing in fields or in the woods, but they can closely resemble poisonous varieties. Hansen and others caution against obtaining psilocybin cheaper on the black market or tripping alone. Service centers provide measured — and often strong — doses in a controlled environment.

“Sometimes part of the healing could be a negative experience someone has to go through, to kind of flush negative emotions out or reexperience some trauma in a healthier way,” Hansen said. “I’d hate to have someone that’s never tried it before take it home, have a bad trip and hurt themselves.”

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Bill Oram: Beavers fans can let Oregon go. Washington State is the rival Oregon State needs

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Bill Oram: Beavers fans can let Oregon go. Washington State is the rival Oregon State needs

CORVALLIS — It was a No One Watches Bowl for the ages.

And, yeah, I think that’s probably what they ought to call this thing. Forget the Pac-2 championship or the Left Behind Bowl. The schools need to lean into that bitter mondegreen of Lee Corso’s actual quote, the one that left folks so intensely riled a year ago. Because the display from Oregon State and Washington State on Saturday, well, that was certainly worth watching.

And for Beavers fans, worth celebrating.

A week after hitting the low point of Trent Bray’s tenure, the Beavers responded with a brilliant new high: A thrilling 41-38 win over the Cougars.

It was secured when Everett Hayes’ sent a 55-yard field goal just inside the right upright with 20 seconds remaining.

If you’re the type to quibble with whether a win over a Washington State team on the periphery of the top 25 truly merited an orange crush of fans storming the field, well, you’re just going to have to let them have this one.

That’s what you do when you beat your rival. Yes, I said rival.

Maybe it’s premature, but with Oregon continuing to distance itself from Oregon State, Beavers fans should let go of the Ducks — at least in football — and embrace this new, developing rivalry that on Saturday delivered a classic.

Will it be the same? Of course not. Nothing is. But unlike with the Ducks of the Big Ten, Washington State gives the Beavers a foil that is part of a shared experience. That has fought similar battles only to end up on the same field at the end of the season.

That’s what made Saturday’s win so sweet for Beavers fans. It was catharsis.

For a long season.

For a long year.

Saturday marked 364 days since Jonathan Smith announced his decision to leave for Michigan State. (How do you plan to observe the anniversary on Monday?) And while not every issue this program has faced can be hung on that moment, it was the beginning of the unraveling.

Assistant coaches followed Smith to Michigan State. Players jumped into the transfer portal. The Beavers were left with a roster, and frankly also a coaching staff, with too many questions and not enough answers.

I’m not alone in buying that the game with Washington State has achieved genuine rivalry status.

“I do and I have, to be honest with you,” said Bray, who grew up in Pullman and played for the Beavers. “It always has been.”

Maybe to some degree. But not a full-fledged rivalry with emotion and pride on the line.

Suddenly, it has all of that.

Especially after everything the Beavers and their fans have been through, off the field and on.

By Saturday, Oregon State was 4-6, riding a five-game losing streak. If this season even had a rock bottom, you hoped it was that inexcusable 28-zilch Coach Bray seat-warmer at Air Force. But you really couldn’t be sure, especially not against a WSU team that had harbored aspirations of crashing the College Football Playoff before crashing out against New Mexico last week.

So what happened?

Starting quarterback Ben Gulbranson got healthy after missing the trip to Air Force with a concussion, offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson simplified the playbook, and the Beavers did something they had been unable to do in close games against Nevada and San Jose State.

They found a way.

Gulbranson overcame two second-half interceptions to complete a gotta-have-it fourth-down pass over the middle to Trent Walker to set up the go-ahead field goal. Before that, Jaden Robinson got a paw on a fumble to give the Beavers the ball at midfield when it seemed like it would, in fact, be Washington State that would milk the clock and kick a game-winner.

So when the game ended, and fans streamed onto the field, it was more than just a celebration of a single game.

“They’re the best fanbase out there,” Gulbranson said, “and I’m really happy that we could finish this one off for them and finish the season off right, here at Reser (Stadium).”

Does that make up for a season of frustration? Does it render moot the questions of a week ago? Of course not. Bray has serious questions to answer about the state of his team and the roster. He has a long way to go before he has a team that can contend for the CFP. He needs to find a quarterback.

This season has been a whiff at the most important position on the field. But Gulbranson is a tough customer. After he was passed over the job for a third consecutive year, he stayed ready for a third consecutive year, and stepped into the role when called upon for the third consecutive year.

On Saturday, he completed 22 of 34 passes for 294 yards. Just enough to tough out the most meaningful victory of the year.

You have to wonder if the Beavers might not have been able to pick off a few more wins if they had just trusted their Steady Eddie, Reliable Ben from the beginning.

Now, the Beavers are likely a week away from the end of their season. At 5-6, a bowl game is almost certainly out of reach.

They would have to beat No. 12 Boise State on the blue turf next week and that’s a tough ask of any team. Especially with the way Ashton Jeanty slices through defenses and the trouble OSU has had stopping the run.

So Saturday against the Cougars felt like the Beavers’ bowl game.

And maybe that’s the way it should be for two programs caught in this awkward purgatory. They are joined at the hip, not by choice but by necessity. Whether that makes them “buddies” or not, that’s for others to Dickert — I mean, dicker over.

But since when should rivals pretend to be friends? Beavers and Ducks never did.

There’s no replacing what the annual matchup with Oregon has meant to the state, but with that game now a nonconference matchup and not even a sure bet to be played beyond next season, it is, quite sadly, hard to put too much stock into anymore.

But Washington State? The Beavers will play the Cougars twice next season to highlight a schedule held together with duct tape and bubble gum.

And if this new iteration of the Pac-12 that the schools fought so hard for is going to make it and have an identity of its own, OSU and WSU have to be at the center of it.

A good rivalry needs a name.

The Beavers and Cougars can thank Corso for theirs, even if he was misheard, misunderstood and misquoted.

Maybe nobody in the Power Four conferences wanted these two schools.

But if Saturday is an indicator of how this rivalry is going to go, everyone will be watching.

— Bill Oram is the sports columnist at The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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Oregon

Oregon State vs Washington State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Week 13 game

Published

11 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Oregon State vs Washington State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Week 13 game

Oregon State will look to salvage its disappointing season this weekend in the final home game of the year.

The Beavers (4-6) will return to Reser Stadium as they host Washington State (8-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday in a clash of Pac-12 rivals.

After a promising start to the year, Oregon State has cratered during the final month of the season and is in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Last week, the Beavers suffered one of the worst losses in recent program history during a 28-0 loss at Air Force.

“Last week was obviously very disappointing; we did not play well in any phase of the game,” Oregon State head coach Trent Bray said Monday. “We’ve gotta look at what we’re doing, what we’re asking them to do and what they do well and get that fixed immediately. That was really the first game that was disappointing to watch us play. I think every other game this year we’re in close games, we’re competing, we’re at it. That wasn’t it on Saturday, and that’s disappointing.”

Watch Oregon State football vs. Washington State live on Fubo (free trial)

Watch Oregon State football vs. Washington State live on Sling TV

Oregon State vs Washington State score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Oregon State vs Washington State time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon

What channel is Oregon State vs Washington State game on today?

TV channel: The CW
Radio: KEJO (1240 AM, 93.7 FM, Corvallis), KKNX (840 AM, 105.1 FM, Eugene), KBZY (1490 AM, Salem), KEX (1190 AM, Portland).
Streaming: Fubo (free trial), Watch ESPN

Oregon State vs. Washington State will be broadcast nationally on The CW in Week 13 of the 2024 college football season. Ted Robinson and Ryan Lead will call the game from the booth from Reser Stadium, with Nigel Burton reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Oregon State vs Washington State history

Series record: Washington State leads, 57-47-3
Oregon State’s last win: 2022 (24-10, in Corvallis)
Washington State’s last win: 2023 (38-35, in Pullman, Wash.)

Oregon State vs Washington State betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday:

Spread: Washington State by 11.5
Over/under: 56.5
Moneyline: Washington State -450, Oregon State +340

Oregon State vs Washington State weather update

Saturday’s forecast for Corvallis calls for a high of 51 with a temperature of about 48 degrees and a 24% chance of rain at kickoff.

Oregon State football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31 — Idaho State (W, 38-15)
Sept. 7 — at San Diego State (W, 21-0)
Sept. 14 — Oregon (L, 49-14)
Sept. 21 — Purdue (W, 38-21)
Oct. 5 — Colorado State (W, 39-21)
Oct. 12 — at Nevada (L, 42, 37)
Oct. 19 — UNLV (L, 33-25)
Oct 26 — at California (L, 44-7)
Nov. 9 — San Jose State (L, 24-13)
Nov. 16 — at Air Force (L, 28-0)
Nov. 23 — Washington State
Nov. 29 — at Boise State
Record: 4-6

Washington State football 2024 schedule

Aug. 31 — Portland State (W, 70-30)
Sept. 7 — Texas Tech (W, 37-16)
Sept. 14 — at Washington (W, 24-19)
Sept. 20 — San Jose State (W, 52-52 2 OT)
Sept. 28 — at Boise State (L, 45-24)
Oct. 12 — at Fresno State (W, 25-17)
Oct. 19 — Hawai’i (W, 42-10)
Oct. 26 — at San Diego State (W, 29-26)
Nov. 9 — Utah State (W, 49-28)
Nov. 16 — at New Mexico (L, 38-35)
Nov. 23 — at Oregon State
Nov. 30 — Wyoming
Record: 8-2

Oregon State football news

Oregon State’s abysmal 2024 football season reaches new low with loss to Air Force

(Men’s basketball) ‘We learned quite a lesson;’ Oregon State shows signs of progress in close loss to Oregon

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Jarrid Denney covers high school sports and Oregon State for the Statesman Journal. He can be reached at JDenney@salem.gannett.com or on X @jarrid_denney.

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Oregon

GAME DAY CENTRAL – Washington State vs Oregon State

Published

19 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

GAME DAY CENTRAL – Washington State vs Oregon State

Who: Washington State (8-2) vs Oregon State (4-6)

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Reser Stadium – Corvallis, Ore.

Coaches: Trent Bray (1st season, 4-6) vs Jake Dickert (23-18, 4th year, 3rd full)

Spread: Washington State -11.5

How to watch: The CW

How to listen: CLICK HERE

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Oregon State By The Numbers

3 – Kicks and punts blocked by OSU’s special teams this year, tied for eighth nationally.

5 – Current Beavers who recorded a statistic in last season’s game against Washington State, four of which came on defense. The fifth was punter Josh Green.

14 – Rushing scores for Anthony Hankerson this season, tying him with Jacquizz Rodgers for seventh at OSU.

19 – Players the Beavers will be honoring pre-game as part of Senior Day.33:23 – Oregon State’s time of possession, which ranks fifth nationally. The Beavers dropped almost two minutes after holding the ball just 18:04 at Air Force.

54 – Career starts for Joshua Gray, who was recently invited to the East-West Shrine Game. The 54 starts are an OSU career record.

65 – Catches for Trent Walker this season. He needs five for the 15th 70-yard reception season ever by a Beaver.

111 – Rush yards needed by Anthony Hankerson for the 19th 1,000-yard season effort in Oregon State history.

Against Washington State

– Oregon State and Washington State have played every year dating back to 2003.

– Oregon State snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Cougars with a 24-10 victory in 2022 in Corvallis. Prior to the eight-game losing streak, however, the Beavers had won three straight, six-of-seven and eight-of-10 from 2004 to 2013.

– Deshaun Fenwick had 101 rush yards and three touchdowns in last season’s 38-35 loss. The Cougars took a 35-14 lead into the fourth quarter but OSU scored 21 in the final 15.

– Head Coach Trent Bray attended Pullman High School. His father, Craig, coached in two different stints at Washington State, in 1987, and then again from 1994-99. Bray’s mother, Kaprice, was also the Head Coach for volleyball at Washington State in 1985.

– Sean Mannion’s 493 passing yards in the 2013 game marks the Oregon State single-game record. He followed that up with 419 yards a year later.

– Jake Luton had one of 17 400-yard efforts in OSU history when he passed for 408 in 2019.

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