United States: On Tuesday, a pair of California lawmakers introduced the bipartisan bill that would allow people above 21 years to consume psychedelic mushrooms under professional supervision as part of an agenda aimed at solving mental health and substance use crises in the state, as reported by Associated Press.
From Criminalization to Therapeutic Support
This follows in the aftermath of Democratic Gov. It was also the first time that Democrat Sen. Scott Wiener’s proposal went through the legislature after years of languishing in stasis with little hope for adoption. The governor who had backed the legalization of recreational weed in 2016, Newsom, appealed to legislators, asking them to work on therapeutic guidelines and regulations.
Now, Wiener has partnered with Republican Assemblymember Marie Waldron on a plan permitting participation to consume psilocybin — the hallucinogenic and critical component in what’s called psychedelic mushrooms- under licensing therapists. The bill would also incorporate DMT, MDMA, and mescaline.
Embracing Therapeutic Potential
The states of Colorado and Oregon have already decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms, creating modern regulatory schemes for therapeutical use. San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Cruz in California have practically decriminalized possession of psychedelic mushrooms; thus, a person cannot be arrested or charged for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens.
“We know that Californians are struggling with mental health and addiction challenges, and we know that psychedelics, particularly when combined with therapeutic support, can be a powerful tool to help people get their health back,” Wiener said at a Monday news briefing. “We know that California veterans and first responders have particularly benefited from these substances, and we know that many more people can as well.”
A different bill was introduced by Waldron on the use of psychedelic theory, said the bipartisan bill aligns with Newson’s vision by providing safety around psychedelic therapy. A person has to go under proper screening to determine if he/she is fit to consume hallucinogens through therapy and engage in follow-up assessments.
Waldron added the bill would also change the paradigm of response to mental health crisis in terms of away from criminalization and punishments.
And California already has “a massive network” of underground therapists who conduct psychedelic therapy, Wiener said. He also stated that such a bill would bring them above ground through the new state licensing board for those services.
Safety Measures and Federal Implications
The bill does not permit private ownership and consumption. That is, the clients cannot purchase the product on the go. The drugs would still be illegal under federal laws. Wiener declared he doesn’t want to wait for actions from the federal government and that if state legislators could authorize such regulated psychedelic use, it would be as similar to previous efforts aimed at legalizing therapeutical cannabis usage in order to treat various cancers or HIV.
Psychedelic mushrooms are often referenced as a psychoactive drug in the 1960s; however, it has been utilized for religious or spiritual purposes by some cultures over hundreds of years and even thousands. Some scientists say psilocybin and other drugs look hopeful in the treatment of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Food and Drug Administration 2018 designated psilocybin a “breakthrough therapy” last year, and guidance for researching clinical trials of psychedelic drugs was published as drafts.
Transforming Psychedelic Therapy
The bill is sponsored by a nonprofit organization, Heroic Hearts Project, which helps veterans recover from trauma. Juliana Mercer, a former Marine Corps veteran and board member for the Heroic Hearts Project, said she’s used psychedelics to treat her PTSD via programs overseas. Her organization has recently sent veterans from that country to Oregon, where regulated psilocybin use took place.
“Through education and through regulation, we’ll be able to take people from doing this underground, where it may not be safe, into a place where they can do it safely,” Mercer said.
She added that will allow them to “access the healing that they deserve without fear of negative repercussions.”
The supporting group, California Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education, which opposed the bill last year to decriminalize psychedelics, also came on board this time around. The group’s executive director, Susan Sagy, referred to it as a ‘middle ground approach that balances the possible benefits of therapeutic treatment and treats public health challenges.
A Roadmap for the Future
Supporters of the bill expect it will take 18 to 24 months to implement the program if this bill becomes law. The bill would also introduce an educational program to assist in the reduction of negative connotations associated with psychedelics.