State-level psychedelics policy reform is gaining momentum across the United States, with several significant developments occurring since our last update. Here is a recap of the latest progress as of January 18, 2024:
California: Assembly Bill 941, which aims to establish a state workgroup to explore a therapeutic regulatory framework for psychedelic therapies, unanimously cleared the Assembly’s Health Committee on January 9. On January 18, it also passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee. The bill is now moving to the chamber’s floor for consideration. If enacted, the provision of psychedelic-assisted therapies would become legal once a regulatory framework is established based on the workgroup’s recommendations.
However, Decriminalize California’s campaign to legalize psilocybin did not gather enough signatures to make it onto the 2024 ballot, marking the third consecutive election cycle in which the initiative fell short. The campaign seeks to legalize the possession, cultivation, and sale of psilocybin for adults over 21 and requires a state-level therapeutic regulatory framework for health professionals to administer the psychedelic.
Indiana: Senate Bill 139, which focuses on psilocybin research, unanimously passed the Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services on January 17. The bill has now been reassigned to the Appropriations Committee. If passed, it would establish a therapeutic psilocybin research fund to provide financial assistance for research institutions in Indiana to study psilocybin’s efficacy in treating mental health and other medical conditions.
Alaska: Companion bills SB 166 and HB 228 were introduced on January 16, aiming to establish a mental health and psychedelic medicine task force. The bills have been referred to the Senate’s Labor and Commerce Committee and the House’s Health & Social Services Committee, respectively. The task force’s objectives include assessing the potential use of psychedelic medicine in addressing the ongoing mental health crisis, considering barriers to implementation and equitable access, recommending licensing and insurance requirements for practitioners in the event of federal reclassification and FDA approval, and exploring legal and regulatory pathways to the legalization of psychedelic medicines in the state.
Arizona: On January 16, House Bill 2274 was introduced, which would require employers to provide workers’ compensation coverage to firefighters and certified peace officers diagnosed with PTSD. The treatment protocol included in the bill involves methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted therapy prescribed by a healthcare provider.
New York: House Bill 8349, which seeks to establish a psilocybin-assisted therapy pilot program for 10,000 veterans and first responders in the state’s western region, was amended and resent to the Assembly’s Health Committee on January 16. The program aims to provide funding for the mentioned population to receive medical treatment and develop necessary rules and regulations for the application and distribution of funds.
These are just a few examples of the state-level psychedelics policy reform initiatives currently underway throughout the United States. Other states, including Wisconsin, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Washington, New Jersey, Virginia, Oregon, and Connecticut, have also seen proposals introduced or progress made in recent weeks. It is clear that the conversation surrounding psychedelics is evolving rapidly at the state level, with potential implications for both medical and therapeutic applications. As public opinion and scientific research continue to support the potential benefits of psychedelics, it will be important to monitor the progress of these state-level initiatives and their potential impact on broader drug policy reform efforts.
