Oregon is on the brink of making history as we move closer to becoming the first place in the world with regulated access to psychedelic healing. But for some Oregonians, there is one more potential challenge this election cycle. As ballots hit mailboxes, voters in over 100 cities and 27 counties across the state will vote once again on psilocybin therapy access in local jurisdictions. If these measures pass, it will ban access to psilocybin therapy in many local communities, a decision that results in hardship for rural Oregonians, people with treatment-resistant depression and those facing end-of-life anxiety.

While the majority of the jurisdictions with local measures banning psilocybin therapy are places where local voters did not pass Measure 109 in 2020, there are several Oregon counties and cities where Measure 109 did pass that still referred bans to the ballot: Clackamas, Clatsop, Deschutes and Jackson counties and the cities of Coos Bay, McMinnville and Philomath. These are the places to watch in Oregon during this election, and we will be updating you with the latest information about where the world’s first regulated psilocybin therapy program is available soon after Election Day.

Milestone! First Training Program Licensed

We are beyond excited to share the news that Oregon hit yet another incredibly important and historic milestone: The first ever state level Psilocybin Facilitator Training Program license was issued to our friends and colleagues at InnerTrek!

“InnerTrek's emphasis on cultivating a morally upstanding, professionally rigorous and well-networked practice gives me hope that we can collectively foster a safe, responsible and prosperous rollout of this much-needed, emerging therapeutic practice.”

—Johnny Dwork,
Current InnerTrek Student

InnerTrek was founded by Tom Eckert, who along with his late wife Sheri spearheaded the creation of Measure 109 and is one of the forces behind the vision for Oregon’s program. Tom and Sheri’s dream had always been to start their own facilitator training program. As the first facilitator training facility approved by the Oregon Health Authority and licensed by Oregon’s Department of Education and HECC, InnerTrek’s groundbreaking program is already preparing students to become state-licensed psilocybin service providers.
> InnerTrek

We would also like congratulate three additional schools that have recently received HECC approval. More soon on these programs!
> Fluence
> SoundMind Institute
> Synthesis

Public Comment Open for Draft Rules

The November public comment period on proposed rules for Oregon Psilocybin Services is now open. You can find the proposed rules on the OPS Administrative Rules page. Comments will be accepted on the proposed rules from November 1 through November 21, 2022. During this period, you can provide your comments in writing and by e-mailing: publichealth.rules@dhsoha.state.or.us.

You can also share your comments by participating in one of the three virtual public hearings:
Tuesday, November 15, 6–8pm
Wednesday, November 16, 12–2pm
Thursday, November 17, 10–12pm
Sign up in advance here.

Veterans Call for Access to Psilocybin Therapy

I am grateful to have been featured as a guest author in the Argus Observer to shine a light on the suicide crisis facing our veterans. Combat veterans are returning home to their families facing mental illness and substance use disorders, and a staggering number of them are ultimately committing suicide—and Oregon’s veteran suicide rate is significantly higher than the national veteran suicide rate. Access to psilocybin therapy is particularly important for veterans in more remote areas, who make up a greater percentage of the population in more rural counties than urban counties. Asking veterans to travel many hours to access this breakthrough treatment–particularly when access to mental health services is already limited in the places where they live–is unfair and immoral.
> Read the full article

UPCOMING EVENTS

Certificate in Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Program Open House
Wednesday, November 30th, 5:30–8:00 pm PST

Fluence is hosting an in-person open house discussing their Certificate in Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy program at Sky Lounge at The Rodney in Portland, Oregon. Their program is for therapists who wish to obtain the training and education necessary to become a licensed Psilocybin Facilitator under Oregon’s Measure 109. The program is designed and taught by leading experts with psilocybin-assisted therapy experience in clinical research settings. This is a live in-person event and capacity is limited.
> Register Here

Psilocybin Fall Business Forum

Over 300 people attended OHA’s Psilocybin Fall Business Forum, held virtually last week. After the 6 sessions with guest speakers, there was a robust Q&A with the audience. You can find all 6 recorded sessions here, and a summary of the questions and answers here.

IN THE NEWS

Oregon media continue to cover upcoming local ballot measures, as Oregon’s psilocybin program continues to gear up for the official launch.

Psilocybin Use Is on the Ballot Again for Many Oregon Voters / KNKX

In the spring, Christopher Maddox flew to Mexico to get help. The former Navy SEAL had been suffering from PTSD and substance use disorder for years. At one point, he was on 13 medications. He tried a variety of therapies, but none of them worked.

"It still didn’t really fix the root cause. And the root cause was I hated myself, and I was helpless. I didn’t think there was any way out of it," he said.

A friend connected him with a treatment center in Mexico that does psilocybin therapy. In April, he flew south for a five-day retreat that included taking seven ounces of the psychedelic mushrooms under the oversight of a coach. He said it was life changing.
> Read the full article

Psilocybin Advocates Make Push as November Election Brings Local Efforts to Opt Out of Measure 109 / Willamette Week

For many Oregonians, magic mushrooms are on the ballot this November—again. The initiative that legalized the therapeutic use of psilocybin allows cities and counties to opt out, prohibiting the manufacture and use of the compound. To do so, local governments must get approval from voters, and some 100 cities and 26 counties have opt-out measures on the November ballot.
> Read the full article

Campaign Launches as Jackson County Voters Set to Decide on Psilocybin Treatment / KTLV News 10

After Jackson County Commissioners voted to send Measure 109, which legalized treatments using psilocybin, a group of Southern Oregon veterans, organizations, and mental health providers have come together to campaign ‘no’ on what is now Measure 15-203.

“We need as many mental health services as possible there is no reason for someone to need to drive two hours for treatment it just limits access,” the campaign manager for ‘Vote No on 15-203’ Will Lucas said.

In 2020, the state passed Measure 109, which legalized psilocybin treatments, under certain controlled circumstances, like licensed therapeutic settings.

In Jackson County, measure 109 passed by nearly 3,000 votes, which is a 51%-49% margin.
> Read the full article

Election Updates & Historic Milestones