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California gets one step closer to legalizing psychedelics

California Lawmakers Approve Bill To Legalize Psychedelics Possession In Committee

If you’ve been following along with the Daily Mushroom newsletter, you know that earlier this month, the California Senate approved a bill that would decriminalize possession of psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms. Well, that bill (SB 5119) was just approved by The Assembly Public Safety Committee – one of three assembly committees needed to advance the legislation before reaching the governor’s desk.

Senator Scott Wiener, the bill’s sponsor, turned to Twitter to celebrate the win. “Another step toward ending the failed & racist War on Drugs & expanding access to mental health & addiction treatment.”

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New bill would end war on drugs after 50 years

First-Ever Congressional Bill To Decriminalize All Drugs Announced Ahead Of Nixon Drug War Anniversary

Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Cori Bush (D-MO) introduced a new bill, the Drug Policy Reform Act (DRPA) that would end incarceration for possessing any illicit drug. The bill will be filed on June 18, exactly 50 years after Richard Nixon declared a war on drugs that has contributed to racial inequality and higher incarceration rates than any other country. The DRPA would make it illegal to deny employment for simple drug possession or to require drug testing to receive federal benefits, and would also reinvest funds in harm reduction programs.

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Seven BC mayors sign letter in support of Vancouver’s proposal to decriminalize 15 illicit drugs

B.C. mayors lend support to Vancouver’s drug decriminalization plan

The City of Vancouver applied for an exemption from federal drug laws that would decriminalize the possession of 15 illicit drugs including psilocybin. Mayors from Victoria, Saanich, Nanaimo, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam and Kamloops all signed a letter in support of the so called “Vancouver Model”, recognizing that the current approach to the opioid crisis is ineffective. Saanich mayor Fred Haynes believes that if the exemption is granted, “there would be less police involvement, access to a regulated drug supply and less stigma around addiction”.

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Psychedelic “smart shops” to open in Jamaica

Psychedelic Mushroom Shops Reach The Americas

Many psychedelic companies are being drawn to Jamaica, one of the only countries where it’s legal to cultivate, extract, and sell psilocybin mushrooms. Silo Wellness is partnering with Mushe Inc. to open the first “smart shop” in the Western hemisphere, a psychedelic mushroom retail outlet that will sell functional and psychedelic mushrooms in various forms to locals and tourists.

Psyence Group formally began operations in Jamaica under its wholly owned subsidiary, Psyence Jamaica Ltd., which will focus on psilocybin treatment for patients in palliative care. To take on the new market, Psyence Jamaica is in collaboration with LONACAS Inc., a Jamaican clinical research company, and MycoMeditations, a “psilocybin wellness destination experience” in Treasure Beach, Jamaica.

Wake Network Inc. received clearance to conduct a “first-of-its-kind” clinical trial at a Jamaican university, which will study the effect of microdosing on depression and anxiety.

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Why access to psilocybin therapy is still limited despite proven effectiveness

Why Is Ottawa Stalling Proven Magic Mushroom Therapy for the Dying?

After two psilocybin-assisted therapy sessions, a terminal cancer patient, Thomas Hartle, says that “ I can’t emphasize enough how much of my life it has given back. Even months later, it’s much easier for me to be able to clear my head of those useless, anxious thoughts.” While many patients like Hartle are having great success with psilocybin therapy, Canada’s bureaucratic application process is limiting the number of patients who can access it, with 119 exemption applications awaiting review. In order to administer psilocybin therapy effectively, it is crucial that medical professionals experience the drug for themselves, yet only 19 medical professionals have been granted access to it. CEO of TheraPsil, Spencer Hawkswell, says Health Canada is pushing for clinical trials before granting more exemptions, but these trials are incredibly labour-intensive, have strict criteria, and cost millions. Dr. Pam Kryskow of the Canadian Psychedelic Association is advocating to include psychedelic therapy as a palliative care option under Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying legislation, which would allow terminal patients access to psilocybin without going through the slow application process. Krysow believes “that given their safety profile, given their efficacy, given how cheap they are… at this point it’s unethical to not be doing this.”

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Government health official says feds should work with states to ensure equitable access to psychedelic therapy

Feds Should Work With—Not Against—States That Legalize Psychedelics, Government Health Official Says.

At a speaker series hosted by the National Institute of Health (NIH), government health official, Sean Belouin predicted that safety and ethical considerations of psychedelics reform “will rapidly become front-and-center regulatory and policy issues” as more states and municipalities follow Oregon in pursuing the medicalization and decriminalization of psychedelics. Belouin believes that the federal government and other stakeholders need to work with state regulatory agencies to ensure “equitable access of psychedelic therapy for all patients regardless of income status, insurance plans, no insurance or other disparity-limiting factors”. Belouin is a captain of the US Public Health Service and senior science policy advisor with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), so his recommendations gives hope that psychedelic reform will be expedited through federal engagement.

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New York bill would create a psychedelics research institute to study psilocybin treatment for substance use disorder and depression.

New York Bill Would Create State-Sponsored Psychedelics Research Institute

A new bill proposed in New York would create a psychedelic research institute to study the effect of psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, and ibogaine on conditions including addictive disorders, depression, PTSD, and end-of-life anxiety. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D), who believes that “psychedelics provide a host of benefits without the same risk of overdose or dependency that other medications may provide”. The legislature suggests that “psilocybin is a breakthrough therapy for severe depression and nicotine addiction” and may also provide treatment for methamphetamine or opioid addiction.

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California approves bill to legalize possession of psychedelic drugs including psilocybin

California Senate Approves Bill To Legalize Possession Of Psychedelics Like Psilocybin And LSD

California Senate passed a bill that would make it lawful to possess and socially share psychedelic substances including psilocybin, LSD, DMT, MDMA, and ibogaine. If enacted, the state Department of Health would establish a working group to study and recommend regulatory systems that California could use to promote safe and equitable access to the substances. The working group’s recommendations would be due by the beginning of 2024. However, an activist group aims to put forward an initiative to legalize the use and sale of psilocybin mushrooms on California’s 2022 ballot.

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Texas passed a bill to study psychedelic treatments for PTSD in veterans with a surprising bipartisan approval

Texas legislature approves bill to study psychedelics to treat PTSD in veterans

Texas passes bill to study psychedelic treatment for PTSD in veterans with a surprising bipartisan approval. Representative Alex Dominguez is hopeful that other states will once again look to Texas for leadership to address the ongoing mental health crisis. While governor Greg Abbott has yet to take a stance, the bill has received endorsements from the former Texas governor and former US energy secretary, as well as several veterans groups. California, Iowa, Connecticut, Florida, New York, Virginia and Washington are also considering bills to allow for psychedelic treatments.

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