What To Read This Week
As psilocybin-assisted therapy commences in Oregon and Colorado, legislative momentum for psychedelic medicine continues to build across the county. Here are highlights from five states—California, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania:
California Bill Passes Legislature; Headed To Governor Newsom’s Desk: “California lawmakers on Thursday narrowly approved a bill supported by veterans and criminal justice reform advocates to decriminalize the possession and personal use of a limited list of natural psychedelics, including [psilocybin] … The bill also would require the California Health and Human Services Agency to study the therapeutic use of psychedelics and submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the Legislature … [Now], Gov. Gavin Newsom will decide the fate of [the bill].” Hannah Wiley | Los Angeles Times
Indiana Public Health Legislative Committee Holds Hearing On Psychedelic Medicine: “Indiana residents have a higher rate of mental health issues than the nation’s average … Could psilocybin be a solution to Hoosiers' mental health problems? … Discussion about treatments, including the use of psychedelics such as psilocybin, was the main focus of the discussion at [a recent public health legislative committee] meeting … Rep. Vanessa Summers, D-Indianapolis, [said] “If scientists are able to prove that psilocybin is effective at treating mental health disorders and help us prevent Hoosiers from dying by suicide, we as legislators have an obligation to consider legalizing a program similar to that in Oregon to help our constituents.” Mia Frankenfield | TheStatehouseFile.com
Kentucky Considers Using Opioid Settlement Money To Fund Psychedelic Medicine Therapy For People With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: “At [the] Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission’s final public hearing … twenty-three people spoke in favor of [drawing on] some of the state’s opioid-settlement money … to fund the development of an opioid-use disorder treatment using the psychedelic drug ibogaine … Bryan Hubbard, chair and executive director of the commission, which operates in the office of [Republican] Attorney General Daniel Cameron, proposed the expenditure … Joseph Barsuglia, a clinical psychologist [told the Advisory Commission that] ibogaine ‘rapidly alleviates opioid withdrawal and cravings and promotes lasting sobriety in a manner that is superior to opioid-maintenance therapies’ [and that] funding ibogaine research for opioid use disorder is perhaps one of the most obvious and necessary decisions that can be made in the history of addiction medicine.’” Melissa Patrick | Middlesboro News
North Carolina Legislature To Consider Bipartisan Bill To “Allow Some Hospitals To Offer Psychedelic Drug Therapy To Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Known as the “Breakthrough Therapies Research [and] Advisory Act”, the legislation “would allocate $5 million in funding to two medical or academic organizations in the state to test the impact of MDMA and psilocybin on treating mental health conditions. The bill was first introduced in April by Reps. Wayne Sasser (a Republican), Allen Chesser (a Republican), and John Autry (a Democrat). Sasser is the only pharmacist in the state legislature and he became an advocate for psilocybin after learning that it can help veterans with PTSD, [calling psilocybin treatment] “an opportunity for us to look after the people that we’ve put in harm’s way. We owe those people an opportunity to put all this behind them.’” Kallie Cox | The Charlotte Observer
Pennsylvania Psilocybin Bill Propelled By Veterans: “Scientists who study [the use of psilocybin] to treat depression, PTSD and end-of-life acceptance think U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of psychedelics for certain treatments could be coming very soon. Pennsylvania is on the frontlines of this fight … Rep. Jennifer O’Mara, D, and Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, R, [will introduce a bill this coming session] “to expand the ability for academic research on the substance, establish an International Review Board to regulate research, and instate guidelines for psilocybin growers … Pennsylvania’s veterans have displayed a passion for furthering legislation, citing strong evidence that MDMA and psilocybin both work to treat PTSD. Both [of the bill’s sponsors] have personal ties: Pennycuick is retired from the Army, and O’Mara’s husband is a combat veteran suffering from PTSD. ‘What motivates me is hearing veterans’ stories,’ said O’Mara. ‘It’s truly remarkable to see the impact this medication has had on their lives. There’s no denying the benefit this drug can have for our veterans.’” Hanna Webster | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
