Ann Arbor Psilocybin Laws: Decriminalization vs. Legalization

Ann Arbor's psilocybin policy changes local enforcement priorities, not the underlying state and federal laws. This guide separates decriminalization from legalization, explains the city's resolution, and outlines why jurisdiction matters for residents and visitors. It is general legal education; ask a qualified attorney about your own circumstances.

Decriminalization Is Not Legalization

On September 21, 2020, Ann Arbor City Council unanimously adopted Resolution R-20-370. The 11-0 vote made investigation and arrest involving specified entheogenic plants and compounds the city's lowest law enforcement priority. That policy includes psilocybin mushrooms but does not make them lawful.

The familiar term decriminalization can obscure an important limit: this resolution did not legalize psilocybin. Two different kinds of change are often confused:

Legalization changes what the law allows. It may create licensing, regulation, and taxation requirements, as with Michigan's cannabis framework.
Local enforcement deprioritization changes how specified conduct is prioritized by a local authority. It does not repeal criminal statutes or guarantee that enforcement cannot occur.

Ann Arbor's city policy and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's separate policy should not be treated as the same instrument. A prosecutorial directive concerns charging decisions; the city resolution concerns local priorities. Neither provides immunity from state or federal law, and each must be read within its own scope.

What Ann Arbor Resolution R-20-370 Says

The council resolution identifies activities involving entheogenic plants and compounds and states its local enforcement priority in these terms:

"The investigation and arrest of persons for planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, or possessing entheogenic plants or plant compounds which are on the Federal Schedule 1 list shall be the lowest law enforcement priority for the City of Ann Arbor."

The adopted text does not ban all spending on enforcement. It asks the county prosecutor to cease prosecution and expressly says it does not authorize crimes. It also reserves enforcement for significant state or federal violations or threats to public safety. The text discusses entheogenic compounds including psilocybin, mescaline, ayahuasca, and ibogaine.

Read the enforcement language alongside its limits:

It is a city policy, not a change to state or federal legislation.
It does not create a legal entitlement to possess, buy, or sell psilocybin.
Michigan's controlled-substance law continues to apply.
Federal Schedule I classification is not overridden by a city resolution.
Local deprioritization is not a promise that a particular incident will be ignored.

MycoAndCo is located on South State Street in Ann Arbor, near I-94 Exit 177. The shop's location does not create a legal exemption. Resolution R-20-370 is a local priority-setting measure, while Michigan and federal controlled-substance laws remain relevant.

Activities Addressed by the Local Policy & Its Limits

In Ann Arbor

Purchasing is listed in Resolution R-20-370, but the resolution does not authorize a purchase or create a licensed retail framework.
Possession appears in the city's lowest-priority language; applicable criminal laws are not repealed.
Use-related practices appear in the phrase "engaging in practices with" entheogenic compounds. This is not permission for use in every setting.
Planting and cultivation are named in the resolution, subject to its scope and express limits.

What the Resolution Does Not Authorize

Shipping - Orders are reviewed manually for destination eligibility before payment instructions are sent. Free in-store pickup remains available.
Interstate transport is not protected by Ann Arbor's resolution. Local policy does not override federal controlled-substance law or the laws of another jurisdiction.
Federal immunity is not provided. Psilocybin remains a Schedule I controlled substance, and the resolution does not bind federal authorities or courts.

A local enforcement priority should never be read as protection from federal charges. The same is true of assuming that enforcement is impossible because it has previously been uncommon. An attorney can explain how the law applies to a specific set of facts.

Ann Arbor Decriminalization in Context

Denver and Oakland took early steps toward local enforcement reform before Ann Arbor's 2020 vote. These historical examples show that measures differ in scope. A city resolution is not equivalent to a state's regulated services program:

City / State	Action Taken	Date	Notes
Denver, CO	Decriminalized (ballot initiative)	May 2019	First city in the US; 21+ for personal use and possession
Oakland, CA	Decriminalized (city council vote)	June 2019	Unanimous vote; covers psilocybin, peyote, and other natural psychedelics
Santa Cruz, CA	Decriminalized (city council vote)	January 2020	Unanimous; personal possession and cultivation
Ann Arbor, MI	Decriminalized (Resolution R-20-370)	September 2020	Unanimous 11-0 vote; Washtenaw County Prosecutor extended policy countywide in Jan. 2021
Washington, D.C.	Decriminalized (Initiative 81)	November 2020	Effective March 2021; lowest priority for police
Detroit, MI	Decriminalized	November 2021	Voter-approved Proposal E; personal possession and therapeutic use
Oregon (statewide)	Regulated psilocybin services (Measure 109)	November 2020	Licensed service centers and facilitators; on-site administration, not take-home retail
Colorado (statewide)	Personal-use reform and regulated services (Prop 122)	November 2022	Personal-use provisions and licensed services for adults 21+; not ordinary retail sales

Oregon and Colorado established regulated service frameworks with requirements that differ from Ann Arbor's local policy. Their programs should not be described as ordinary take-home dispensary systems. The table records major historical measures, not a guarantee of current permission in any jurisdiction.

For Visitors from Ohio, Indiana, and Other States

Visitors from Ohio, Indiana, and elsewhere should distinguish a store's admission policy from the law. Being in Ann Arbor does not remove Michigan or federal restrictions, and a local resolution does not travel with someone to another city or state. The following store details are separate from legal authorization:

Store access is not a legal exemption. Walk-ins are welcome without an appointment, but visitor status does not make controlled-substance purchases lawful.
MycoAndCo requires age 21+ and valid government photo ID. This is a storefront rule, not a legalization provision.
In-store payment is cash only. An ATM is available on site.
On-site parking is free. The South State Street location is reached from I-94 Exit 177.

Driving Back to Ohio, Indiana, or Other States

Ann Arbor's enforcement resolution applies to the city, not an entire travel route. Neither a purchase nor a local priority-setting policy authorizes possession elsewhere or interstate transport. Crossing jurisdictions can expose someone to different state rules and federal law. Consult an attorney rather than treating a store visit as legal protection.

Michigan Psilocybin Law Outside the Local Policy

Michigan's classification of psilocybin is separate from local enforcement resolutions. Ann Arbor's measure is a city council resolution, not a state statute. Other municipal policies must be read on their own terms; one city's approach should not be assumed to apply statewide.

Michigan lawmakers have proposed statewide reform, including SB 631 in 2021 and later proposals such as SB 499. A proposed bill or a city's endorsement is not an enacted change to controlled-substance law. Check the legislature's official record for a bill's status and obtain legal advice before relying on a reform claim.

City boundaries and the scope of a county prosecutorial policy matter, but even inside them there is no blanket immunity. For current Michigan law and advice about your situation, speak with a licensed Michigan attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy magic mushrooms legally in Ann Arbor?

You can purchase psilocybin mushrooms at MycoAndCo in Ann Arbor. Under Resolution R-20-362, purchasing psilocybin is the lowest law enforcement priority for Ann Arbor police, and the Washtenaw County Prosecutor has agreed not to charge individuals for personal use and possession. This is not the same as legal under Michigan state or federal law — psilocybin remains a controlled substance at both levels — but in practical terms, local enforcement has been deprioritized. For legal advice specific to your circumstances, consult an attorney.

Do I need a prescription?

No. MycoAndCo is not a medical facility and operates in Ann Arbor under Resolution R-20-362, the local enforcement-deprioritization measure for entheogenic plants and fungi. No prescription, medical card, or doctor's referral is required. You do need to be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID.

Can I have psilocybin mushrooms shipped to my home?

MycoAndCo offers shipping and free in-store pickup. Shipping psilocybin through the mail — regardless of your location or the origin — crosses federal jurisdiction, which is outside the scope of any local decriminalization policy. Contact us to confirm shipping availability for your order. In-store pickup is available at 2007 S State St, Ann Arbor.

What if I'm from Ohio or Indiana?

Visitors from Ohio, Indiana, and other states are welcome at MycoAndCo. You must be 21+ with a valid ID. Ann Arbor's decriminalization policy applies within the city regardless of where you're from. What you do once you leave Ann Arbor is subject to the laws of whichever jurisdiction you enter. Transporting psilocybin across state lines carries federal legal risk. Consult a lawyer if you have questions about your specific situation.

Is it safe to visit a psilocybin shop in Ann Arbor?

MycoAndCo has over 649 five-star Google reviews and operates openly in Ann Arbor under the city's decriminalization framework. The store is located in a standard commercial area on South State Street, near the Briarwood Mall corridor, with free on-site parking off I-94 Exit 177. Walk-ins are welcome. The staff are knowledgeable and there to help you find what you're looking for.

What do I need to bring?

Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID showing you are 21 or older (driver's license, passport, or state ID). Bring cash — we are cash only. There is an ATM on-site if needed. You do not need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.

Are edibles and capsules covered by the decriminalization resolution too?

Yes. Resolution R-20-362 covers psilocybin in all its naturally derived forms. This includes psilocybin chocolate bars, gummies, drink enhancers, and microdose capsules — not just dried mushrooms. The resolution references entheogenic plants and their compounds broadly, not just raw fungal material.

What about functional mushrooms like Lion's Mane?

Functional mushrooms — including Lion's Mane, Reishi, and Cordyceps — are not psychoactive and are not controlled substances. They are entirely legal under federal, state, and local law. No special policy or resolution is needed to purchase them. MycoAndCo carries a selection of functional mushroom products alongside psilocybin products. They are two distinct categories: one is a wellness supplement, the other is an entheogenic compound covered by Ann Arbor's decriminalization resolution.

Visit MycoAndCo

MycoAndCo is Ann Arbor's go-to source for psilocybin mushrooms, microdose capsules, and edibles — operating openly under Resolution R-20-370 with over 649 five-star Google reviews. Whether you're a first-time visitor curious about a specific strain or an experienced psychonaut looking for something specific, the staff are here to help.