Several US states are working to change their psychedelic laws. Here is an overview of the latest developments.
Hawaii to Create Task Force on Psilocybin for Therapeutic Use
Of the six proposed psychedelic laws in Hawaii during 2023, SB 1454 is the only one approved so far.
The new measure provides for the creation of a working group on therapeutic psilocybin. This group will study the medical and therapeutic effects of psychedelics for treating anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The new measure also provides a long-term strategic plan for safe, affordable and available access to psilocybin or psilocybin products for people aged 21 and over.
The bill passed unanimously on February 6, after the Health and Human Services Committee held a public hearing in which veterans, health policy reform advocates drugs, mental health professionals and representatives of state agencies testified.
Lawmakers recommended amendments to the original bill. For example, that the new working group be led by a representative of theOffice of Wellness and Resiliency (OWR) from the Governor, rather than the Director of the Ministry of Health, and that an incumbent be appointed to allocate funds to support the activities of the group.
The measure won the support of Democrat Josh Green as governor.
In the meantime, SB I531 will hold its next public hearing on February 10. The measure aims to create an advisory council to review, evaluate and recommend new mental health treatments, including not only psilocybin, but also MDMA.
The other four bills were sent back to committee.
Virginia reps to vote on psilocybin reclassification
The entire Senate passed SB 932 with 25 votes in favor and 15 against. The new measure calls for the creation of a psilocybin advisory board and the reinstatement of the substance into state law.
Although psilocybin therapy is not immediately legal, the new advisory council wants to establish therapeutic access to psilocybin services. It will also monitor and review federal laws, regulations, and policies relating to psilocybin.
New York considers reforming psychedelics
The state’s fourth psychedelics proposal for the 2023 session calls for the legalization of medical psilocybin with a certified producer in a controlled environment.
She would also set up a grant program for veterans, first responders, retired first responders and low-income people to receive treatment with psilocybin or MDMA. The measure has been in the Senate Finance Committee since Jan. 31.
New York lawmakers have also introduced bills to declassify and legalize psychedelics (A00114, in the Health Committee since Jan. 4) and pilot psilocybin and MDMA-assisted therapy programs (A8569A revised, still in committee).
They also introduced a more recent Senate bill, which decriminalizes possession of personal amounts of drugs and creates a task force to study other possible harm reduction reforms (S2340, referred to committee codes on January 20).
Other Psychedelic Bills in the United States
West Virginia: A bill to remove psilocybin, cannabis, and THC from Schedule I state controlled substances was sent to the House Health and Human Resources Committee on January 24.
New Hampshire: the first bill to legalize the possession and use by adults of psilocybin, mescaline, peyote and LSD for those over 21 and to reduce penalties for the manufacture, sale and possession of LSD for those under 21 is still under review by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee as of January 5.
A second bill seeks to exempt DMT from the state’s controlled substances list and is currently at the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, where an executive session will be held on February 10. Lawmakers will have until March 16 to vote on these two measures.
Missouri: a bill to legalize psilocybin-assisted therapy for eligible patients on the recommendation of a physician was removed from the House calendar after a second reading on January 19 (with no hearing scheduled). This bill would also expand treatment access to people over the age of 21, once psilocybin is reclassified from the schedules at the federal level.
Massachusetts: bills HD 1450 and SD 949 are active in the current 2023 session. The goal is to decriminalize psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline for those over 18. There is also a harm reduction-focused bill that would change the state’s statute, replacing criminal penalties for drug possession with health and need testing.
Illinois: the CURE Act, which creates a statewide assisted psychedelic therapy program for people ages 18 and older and decriminalizes psilocybin possession, is under review by the House Rules Committee state officials after being fired on January 12.
Washington: A bipartisan push for legal psychedelic therapy for people age 21 and older is the Psilocybin Services Wellness and Opportunity Act, which aims to improve general physical, mental and social well-being and to help treat behavioral disorders. The bill, which includes a social opportunities program aimed at including low-income communities, military veterans and Indigenous peoples, is currently being considered by the Labor and Commerce Committee, where a public hearing was held on January 30.
Connecticut: a bill calling for the legalization of psilocybin for therapeutic or medicinal purposes “including, but not limited to, the provision of physical, mental, or behavioral health care” has been at the Joint Committee on Public Health since the January 9.
arizona: A bipartisan bill was read a second time on January 23 and finally assigned to the MAPS committee on February 1. This bill encourages psilocybin research by providing grants of up to $30 million for clinical trials investigating the effects of psilocybin mushrooms on 13 different mental disorders.
California: the latest attempt to decriminalize the possession and personal use of certain psychedelics, led by Senator Scott Wiener, was introduced on December 16, 2022. It received first reading on January 4, 2023 and currently sits on the public safety committee since January 18. This bill only affects naturally occurring psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline (not derived from peyote).
