In a surprising move, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills on Saturday that would have made California the first state in the US to outlaw caste-based discrimination and decriminalize the possession and personal use of several hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms.

The first bill, which aimed to ban caste discrimination, had gained momentum earlier this year when Seattle became the first US city to add caste to its anti-discrimination laws. On September 28, Fresno became the second US city, and the first in California, to prohibit discrimination based on caste. However, Newsom deemed the bill unnecessary, stating that California already has protections in place against discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. He argued that the existing civil rights protections cover caste discrimination and further legislation is not required.

Caste discrimination, which affects at least 250 million people worldwide, is prevalent in various regions such as Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and diaspora communities. Caste systems are found among Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Muslims, and Sikhs. The bill aimed to provide legal protection for Dalits, who belong to the lowest strata of the caste system, and have faced bias in housing, education, and the tech sector. However, opponents, including Hindu groups, argued that the proposed legislation was unconstitutional and unfairly targeted Hindus and Indian Americans, leading to a division within the Indian American community.

The second bill vetoed by Newsom sought to decriminalize the possession and personal use of hallucinogens such as psychedelic mushrooms. The legislation would have allowed individuals aged 21 and older to possess psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component in psychedelic mushrooms, as well as dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline. However, Newsom expressed concerns that more work needed to be done before decriminalizing these substances. He called for regulated treatment guidelines, including dosing information, therapeutic guidelines, rules to prevent exploitation during guided treatments, and medical clearance. Newsom's statement suggested that decriminalization should only occur once these guidelines are in place to ensure safe and responsible usage.

The use of psychedelics has gained attention in recent years as an alternative approach to treating mental illnesses, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The Federal Drug Administration designated psilocybin as a "breakthrough therapy" for treatment-resistant depression in 2019 and published a draft guideline on using psychedelics in clinical trials. Public opinion has also shifted to support therapeutic use, with veterans advocating for the benefits of psychedelics in treating trauma and other illnesses. However, opponents of the bill argued that the drugs' benefits are still largely unknown and expressed concerns about potential crimes, despite studies showing that decriminalization does not increase crime rates. Parents' organizations also worried about the accessibility of these substances to children and young people.

It is worth noting that even if the bill had been signed into law, the possession and use of hallucinogens would still be illegal under federal law. The vetoed legislation focused on decriminalizing possession and ensuring that individuals would not be arrested or prosecuted for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens, without legalizing their sale or allowing possession on school grounds.

Newsom's veto of both bills has disappointed activists and supporters who were hoping for progress in addressing caste discrimination and exploring alternative treatments for mental health. The future of these issues in California remains uncertain, but the debates surrounding them continue to highlight the complexities of discrimination, mental health, and drug policy in the state.