Over 28 States Have Introduced Legislation for Psilocybin Access
Dear supporter,
As a member of the Healing Advocacy Fund community, you probably know that in 2020 Oregon became the first state to establish a state-regulated system to provide access to psilocybin therapy. Shortly after, in 2022, Colorado passed their own ballot measure.
In a remarkable sea change from just a few years ago, 28 states are currently considering some form of legislation or policy related to psychedelic healing. Although the various measures range from giving people access through licensed and regulated programs to study committees evaluating particular psychedelics for future healing potential, the fact that state lawmakers in a majority of states are now willing to explore psychedelic healing for those struggling with mental health has surprised even long-time psychedelic watchers.
Policymaker action on psychedelics reflects an incredible change in public attitudes over the last several years, in part driven by ongoing support for psychedelic healing from groups that appeal to more conservative audiences, including veterans. A recent study published in the American Journal of Bioethics: Neuroscience showed 9 out of 10 Americans approve of psilocybin’s use in a controlled, licensed setting to treat specific conditions or promote general well-being.
That support includes people from across the political and ideological spectrum, making psychedelic healing an issue supported by both Republicans and Democrats in state and federal legislative efforts nationwide. A few states leading efforts to expand access to psychedelic therapy include:
A GOP-led effort in Indiana, House Enrolled Act 1259 (formerly Senate Bill 139), which will establish a therapeutic psilocybin research fund, administered by the Indiana department of health, to provide financial assistance to research institutions in Indiana to study the use of psilocybin to treat mental health and other medical conditions.
In Arizona, In addition to the $5 million state dollars set aside for psilocybin research, the AZ Senate also recently passed Senate Bill 1570 with bipartisan support 24-4, which if passed by the House and signed into law by the Governor, would authorize the Department of Human Services (DHS) to license and regulate psilocybin therapy centers in a medically supervised setting.
An estimated 3,000 clients have participated in Oregon’s psilocybin therapy program to date in the states’ 25 licensed service centers, making Oregon the only state-regulated psychedelic healing program currently serving clients. Colorado is currently drafting rules and regulations governing its future program, which is expected to start seeing clients in 2025. Other states considering similar models include Massachusetts, which has a measure for a program similar to Colorado and Oregon that will likely be on the ballot this fall, and California, where lawmakers are championing a bill for a state-regulated psychedelic healing program in the legislature at the request of Governor Gavin Newsom.
With 28 other states considering legislation around psychedelic therapy, we are well-positioned to share lessons learned from the path paved by Oregon and Colorado. The severity of the mental health crisis in this country has driven an emerging appetite for a promising and powerful tool to address it, and we are proud to be at the forefront of supporting access to this important option. Meanwhile, as states continue to consider these new policies, HAF will remain focused on expanding opportunities for access in Oregon, and identifying areas to improve Colorado’s program with those lessons learned.
Onward,
Sam Chapman
Executive Director
UPDATES
Up to Date Numbers on Oregon Psilocybin Services Program Licensing
The following information has been compiled through the OHA’s Psilocybin Services website.
These numbers are updated on a weekly basis and are subject to change. Last updated 4/23/24.
Provide Public Comment to Support Safety and Access in Colorado’s Draft Rules for Standards of Care
This week Colorado regulators released draft rules on standards of care for natural medicine facilitators, including detailed requirements for safety screening, record keeping, client privacy, informed consent, relational boundaries, advertising and more. The proposed rules reflect the Ethical Code drafted by the Natural Medicine Advisory Board (NMAB) over eight months of careful discussion, and they provide a solid framework for a safe, ethical program for Coloradans to access the healing potential of psilocybin with supportive care.
However, HAF is concerned that certain elements of the proposed rules would compromise safety, affordability and access. In particular, the proposed rules would not allow participants located outside Colorado to complete preparation and integration remotely – a major safety and equity issue. Additionally, as currently drafted, the rules assign almost all paperwork to be collected specifically by licensed facilitators. We recommend allowing greater flexibility for healing centers and facilitators to incorporate other staff where applicable, as is standard practice in most healthcare and wellness settings.
The public is invited to comment on these draft rules on April 26 at 2pm MT and/or submit written comments, and we encourage you to add your thoughts, experience, and expertise on these important issues.
Review a summary of the draft rules here.
> Comment at the DORA Stakeholder Meeting on April 26
Have You Received Services Through Oregon's State-Regulated Psilocybin Therapy Program? Share Your Story!
Are you interested in sharing your story as a psilocybin therapy client in Oregon? Did you have a unique experience, or are you inspired to help others find their path to healing, or did you have an experience that you feel warrants system improvements?
In order to learn more about the nation’s first state-regulated psilocybin therapy program, the Healing Advocacy Fund would like to hear your story as a client of the Oregon Psilocybin Services program. As we await real-time data reporting to begin in 2025, these on-the-ground experiences will inform future programmatic changes, and share narratives that help the public understand the risks and benefits of psilocybin therapy.
If you are a prospective psilocybin therapy client and you are looking for more information about Oregon’s Psilocybin Services program, we recommend you review our Oregon Psilocybin Services Guide before accessing services.
> Share Your Story
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
New Service Center Opens in Eugene, OR: Mandala Journey Work
"At Mandala Journey Work we provide trauma informed care. All of our facilitators are trained by Katie Markley, LPC who has over 10 years experience as a somatic trauma therapist.
Whether you seek relief from mental health challenges, spiritual enrichment, or simply a deeper understanding of yourself, we invite you to partake in this transformative experience."
> Learn About Mandala Journey Work
EVENTS
Registration is Open for the 2024 Aspen Psychedelic Symposium
On Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1, join HAF at the historic Wheeler Opera House in the heart of Aspen, Colorado for the 2024 Aspen Psychedelic Symposium. Featuring keynote speakers Rick Doblin and Gül Dölen, this event will showcase expert panels, groundbreaking research, and firsthand insights into the transformative world of psychedelic medicines. On sale now, tickets start at $60 for a day and $100 to attend the full symposium.
HAF is a co-organizer of the Aspen Psychedelic Symposium with Aspen Public Radio and Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center. Started in 2023, the Aspen Psychedelic Symposium explores the tradition, science and advocacy behind these lifesaving medicines. With the passage of the Natural Medicine Health Act, Colorado is on the cutting edge of efforts to responsibly and ethically integrate natural medicines as a therapeutic modality to support mental health and wellbeing. We hope you’ll join us in Aspen this spring.
> Register for the Symposium
Join Colorado State Director Tasia Poinsatte at Horizons 2024
Join HAF at Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics in New York City! Horizons is the longest-running annual psychedelic community gathering in the world. The sixteenth annual conference will be held on May 8-11, 2024 at the New York Academy of Medicine.
HAF Colorado State Director Tasia Poinsatte will present on Saturday, May 11, on state initiatives to support psychedelic research and access. She is joined by Christine Diindiisi McCleave, MA, Tamar Todd, Angela Allbee and W. Bryan Hubbard, JD.
Register now to explore the many dimensions of psychedelics, including science, medicine, policy, business, culture, and spirituality.
> Register for Horizons NYC
RESOURCES
The Oregon Health Authority is Hiring for the Psilocybin Services Program
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Public Health Division (PHD), Oregon Psilocybin Services in Portland, Oregon has a fantastic career opportunity for an Oregon Psilocybin Services Research Analyst (Research Analyst 3) to implement and support the ongoing administration of Senate Bill 303 data collection, de-identification of data, and Training program, Licensing, and Compliance (TLC) system enhancement to collect data.
> Learn More
2024 Oregon Psilocybin Services Public Listening Sessions Summer Schedule
From the OHA: OPS hosts annual public listening sessions for members of the public to share feedback on the ongoing administration of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act (ORS 475A). Input from the public listening sessions will help to inform draft rules, program development, educational materials, and future community engagement.
The Listening Sessions will be held:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Pacific Time)
Wednesday, June 26, 2024 11:30am - 1:00pm (Pacific Time)
Thursday, June 27, 2024 11:30am - 1:00pm (Pacific Time)
Johns Hopkins: Psychedelic Risks, Side Effects, and Potential Harms
Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic & Consciousness Research
IN THE NEWS
As California Seeks to Legalize Psychedelics for Therapy, Oregon Provides Key Lessons
KQED
California has an opportunity to massively expand places where people can use psychedelic drugs under supervision, according to a new bill proposing to legalize substances in approved service centers, including psilocybin, MDMA and mescaline for therapeutic use.
> Read the Full Article
Will Illinois Join Other States in the Legalization of Psilocybin for Supervised Adult Use?
Illinois Public Media
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance derived from certain types of mushrooms. It's currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States. Recently, there's been a growing effort to make psilocybin more accessible for mental health treatment.
> Read the Full Article
Citing the Mental Health Crisis, Some Hope to See Illinois Legalize Psilocybin
IPM News
After graduating from high school, Justin Wigg said he craved adventure, which led him to serve in the Marine Corps for five years during the Iraq war. His adjustment to his life back in the United States, he said, was not easy. He was deployed to Iraq twice, and when he returned home, his friends all had college stories, while he had war stories.
> Read the Full Article