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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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53% of US voters under 30 believe that psychedelic drugs have medical uses

Over a third of US voters say magic mushrooms and other psychedelics have a medical use, new poll shows

According to a recent poll, 35% of American adults believe that psychedelics like magic mushrooms have medical applications, including 43% of Democrats and 23% of Republicans. While voters over 30 years old tended to disagree, 53% of voters aged 18-29 believe that psychedelics have medical value.

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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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