In the magical land of Vermont, a legislative advisory group gathered to discuss the potential wonders of psychedelics for mental health treatment, only to conclude that the state isn’t quite ready to dive into a psychedelic program just yet. It’s like planning a ski trip and realizing you forgot the skis! The group, acting as the responsible adults in the room, recommended keeping tabs on existing studies and proposed extending their own work while adding more study participants. While some cautious members are waiting for the FDA’s thumbs-up, everyone agreed that psilocybin should be the star of the show—though they squabbled over how boldly to move forward.
The advisory team is practically begging for more funding for harm reduction training and education, as curious folks tiptoe into psychedelic land. They noted that only Oregon and Colorado have statewide legal access, making them the cool kids on the psychedelic playground. Meanwhile, a separate group in Vermont feels like they’ve been left behind on the merry-go-round, disappointed by the sluggish progress in studying psychedelics for end-of-life care. However, they welcome the ongoing chatter as a step in the right direction, especially for examining psilocybin’s effects on depression and anxiety.
Rick Barnett, the chair of the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group, seems to think that more research is as necessary as a third arm, citing the long history of psychedelics. While the group focused on the therapeutic side and not on turning Vermont into the next Woodstock, Barnett is keen to keep the public conversation going, aiming to dispel stigma and legal worries like a wise wizard educating the masses.
Published Date: 2024-11-15