One would remove penalties for psilocybin possession and allow medical professionals to prescribe and dispense the drug.
The other would decriminalize possession of up to an ounce of any controlled substance, except fentanyl.
Two bills that would have required the Florida government to research psilocybin, ketamine, and MDMA died in committee.
The bills’ sponsors plan to re-address the issue next year.
With a 7-2 vote, Oklahoma legislators approved a bill in committee to allow universities and research institutions to study psilocybin for various conditions including PTSD, depression, anxiety, dementia, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain. It would also reduce the penalty of low-level possession of psilocybin to a $400 fine.
Hawaii senators unanimously passed a bill to create a psilocybin research task force and develop a long-term strategy to make treatments accessible and affordable.
The state also has a bill to decriminalize psilocybin and establish psilocybin treatment centers, which remains active but has yet to be scheduled for committee hearings.
A bill was filed in Maryland to offer free psychedelic therapy to veterans with PTSD and promote psychedelic research.
Maine lawmakers rejected a bill that would legalize medical use of psilocybin after an 8-3 vote. The bill’s sponsor says she’s not surprised, however “society is changing, and the science is moving quickly, so it’s a matter of when, and not if, legislation like this passes in the future.”
Activists in Washington filed an initiative to decriminalize simple drug possession statewide and give $150M in annual funding to substance abuse prevention, recovery, research, and education.
The measure could appear on the ballot this November if enough signatures are collected.
The Oregon Health Authority released the first draft of rules for the state’s legal psilocybin program. Only one of 200 species of psilocybin mushrooms will be allowed (psilocybe cubensis, the most popular species) and synthetic psilocybin will be banned. Plus, facilitators will need 120 hours of instruction on psilocybin history, safety, racial justice, and cultural equity.
Washington’s initiative to legalize guided psilocybin sessions will not pass, according to the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jesse Salomon.
He explains that there are concerns of facilities losing federal revenue for offering the services, and that the Department of Health is too busy with Covid to implement new regulatory framework.
A ballot measure was filed in Michigan to legalize possession, cultivation, and sharing of a range of psychedelics and implement a system for therapeutic and spiritual use.
If enacted, psilocybin, psilocyn, ibogaine, mescaline, peyote and DMT would be legalized for adults 18 and older.
