By Alyssa Erdley, Observer Staff Writer

Courtesy of the brainiac who is pushing to densify our neighborhoods, California State Senator Scott Wiener, Senate Bill 519 to legalize psychedelic drugs, including LSD, was approved by the state's upper house. It will now move to the State Assembly where a similar vote is likely.

Citing numerous studies touting the potential health benefits of methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), Wiener said "it makes no sense to criminalize" their use. "It's time to move away from failed drug criminalization policies and toward a science- and health-based approach."

Senator Ben Allen, representing the 26th Senate District, including Santa Monica, voted Aye on the bill, which does not restrict the use of psychedelic drugs for medicinal use.

According to the Legislative Counsel Digest, SB 519 would "make lawful the possession for personal use, as described, and the social sharing, as defined, of psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ketamine, and 3,4-methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), by and with persons 21 years of age or older." In other words, recreational use is okayed by this legislation.

LSD is a habit-forming drug that causes hallucinations, may subject its users to unpredictable flashbacks, and can cause long-lasting psychoses, such as schizophrenia or severe depression, according to Drugs.com, providing "peer-reviewed, accurate and independent data." While under the influence of the drug, judgment is impaired, including the ability to see common dangers, "making the user susceptible to personal injury or death."

But SB 519 includes no limitations on use of the drug for medicinal or research purposes only. In a cart-before-the-horse addition to the text, the bill requires the State Department of Public Health to research and make recommendations regarding the regulation and use of the substances made lawful by the bill. Shouldn't that research have been done prior to the wholesale legalization of a known dangerous substance?

The true motivation for the law legalizing psychedelic drugs appears to be emptying the jails and prisons, an urgent goal of the progressive camp. Apparently, it is better to have the mentally ill and dangerously violent out on our streets rather than in jail.

Apparently, it is better to tie the hands of law enforcement of any means of removing from our streets those who choose to behave in an anti-social manner that puts others at risk and degrades their neighborhoods and quality of life. Drug use is one of the few reasons a policeman can arrest someone. They are usually not arresting them for the drug use. Instead, the drug use gives the police an opportunity to remove from the streets someone who is behaving violently, stealing, trespassing, or other once-criminal behavior that is now decriminalized.

But that's all to the good as far as our more-enlightened, charitable elected officials are concerned. We should be forced to deal with drugged-out individuals passed out in our children's parks. We should enjoy sharing our hiking trails, retail stores, and sidewalks with people liable to strike us in the midst of an hallucination. Or drive on the road with them.

But our virtuous state senators, so much more generous than we are, decree the generosity we must show to those who choose to make bad life decisions and create havoc and squalor in our public places. Because that is social justice.