On May 23, 2025 (Friday), Frank Lee announced to Epoch Times that the California Coalition Against Drugs (CCAD) had two significant developments this week. The highly anticipated psychedelic mushroom legalization proposal, SB 751, was rejected in the California Senate Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, the funding proposal SB 28 in support of Proposition 36 for drug rehabilitation was passed unanimously by a 6-0 vote and is expected to be brought to a vote in the full Senate in the near future.
This victory was hard-won, according to Frank Lee, the Director of the Coalition Against SB 751. He stated that it was a result of the long-standing and concerted efforts of advocates against drugs across the state. It once again demonstrates that with unity and a collective voice, harmful legislative proposals can be stopped.
Initially considered almost unstoppable in political circles, SB 751 had garnered support from heavyweight members of both parties leading many to believe that it would pass smoothly. However, with the vigilant oversight and extensive mobilization of the public, the tide turned, leading to the ultimate postponement of the proposal. “There were moments of pessimism during our lobbying efforts, especially when even Republican leaders joined the support, making the situation very unfavorable. But we did not retreat, instead, redoubled our efforts, ultimately proving that as long as we persist, we can change the outcome,” he said.
One of the crucial actions taken was the large-scale “Phone Blitz” initiated by CCAD, where notices were sent to hundreds of thousands of supporters encouraging them to call Senate offices to express strong opposition to SB 751.
Lee noted that this wave of phone activism exerted significant pressure on the offices of legislators, causing some to be practically “paralyzed,” forcing lawmakers to take public opinion seriously.
“In this action, a lawmaker personally called me that day, indicating a change in stance to oppose SB 751,” he revealed. He emphasized the mobilization capability of CCAD, stating, “Even with a small percentage of supporters responding, each action could bring hundreds to thousands of calls, making lawmakers keenly aware that voters are closely monitoring their attitudes and voting decisions.”
In contrast, SB 28, which is related to Proposition 36 and advocates for providing substantial drug rehabilitation resources, received bipartisan support. Its unanimous passage in the Appropriations Committee reflects the strong public expectations for drug rehabilitation measures. “We cannot accept the government’s openness to drug legalization while hesitating to allocate funds for rehabilitation services. This is a significant imbalance in values and resource allocation. The passage of SB 28 is an important step in correcting this imbalance,” according to Frank Lee.
While SB 751 was rejected and SB 28 successfully advanced, Lee emphasized that this does not mean the fight against drugs can slacken. He urged the public to continue to monitor and participate, stating, “We must not underestimate the tenacity of the forces pushing for psychedelic drug legalization. They may come back under a different name or in different packaging. Particularly with SB 28 facing the challenge of a two-thirds threshold in the full Senate, we need more people to stand up, contact state legislators, and express support.”
“This action proves that as long as the people unite, we still have the ability to protect California, to protect our homeland,” Lee said emotionally, expressing sincere thanks to the support from all sectors of society. He also called on the public to remain vigilant, especially targeting California Senator Brian Jones to pressure him to stop promoting any form of drug legalization legislation.
Senator Jones’ Office Telephone: 916-651-4040
Email: [email protected]
Suggested message content: “Please do not push for drugs anymore. Stop introducing pro-drug bills.”