Paving a National Path in 2024
2023 was a landmark year for the psilocybin community, and we have a lot to be proud of in Oregon and Colorado for leading the way. In 2023, over 700 clients received services through Oregon’s psilocybin therapy program.
At the Healing Advocacy Fund, we updated our mission to better reflect the work we do every day to improve access and safety to state-regulated psychedelic therapy, and now turn the corner into 2024 as a national organization.
We are seeking a new Executive Director to lead us through our next chapter (see more below if you are interested!). We look forward to advocating for expanding safe access to the Oregon and Colorado programs, and to supporting new states that adopt the state-regulated access model.
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 1/11/24.
Executive Director Application Deadline Extended: Apply by 2/29
The Healing Advocacy Fund works to expand and protect safe, affordable state-regulated access to psychedelic healing for all who need it.
As we expand to a national organization, HAF is now seeking an Executive Director who can expand upon the organizational foundation we’ve built.
The Healing Advocacy Fund Executive Director serves as the organization’s chief executive officer, reporting to the Board of Directors. The role includes leading successful development implementation of strategy, overseeing business decisions and the senior team, and assuring delivery on board-approved vision, mission, values, goals and impact measures.
If you or someone you know is interested and wants to learn more, access the job description using the link below. The application deadline has been extended to February 29th.
> Apply Here
A First Glance at Rulemaking in Colorado
Colorado’s Natural Medicine Advisory Board will finalize its recommendations to the State this month in anticipation of formal rulemaking in early spring. The State appears on track to begin licensing natural medicine operators in early 2025, with the first healing centers set to open in spring or summer of next year.
With just weeks remaining to finalize recommendations, the Board considered a detailed proposal for screening requirements compiled by a group of medical professionals and a range of data points to inform dosage limits. The Board is currently leaning towards recommending a maximum dosage of 50mg of psilocybin equivalent per session, aligning with Oregon’s rules.
Board members also put forward a recommendation that locations currently licensed to provide medical or mental health services in Colorado automatically qualify as approved locations to provide psychedelic therapies – opening up significant opportunities for integration with existing group and individual practices.
On the public education front, the Department of Revenue is planning to launch campaigns around the current legal limits of the decriminalization of natural medicines under SB 290 and provide general safety information to the public.
The Healing Advocacy Fund continues to help the Board shape its recommendations through policy expertise and lessons learned from Oregon. Last year, HAF presented an analysis of training requirements for facilitators that called for a more substantial experiential component and increased opportunities for skills-based learning. In response to that presentation, the Board is exploring an additional license type -- a "Distinguished Educator" license, modeled after the “Distinguished Scholar” license granted by the medical board to visiting physicians teaching in hospitals. This license type would allow people with extensive training and experience in psychedelic therapies from across the country to formally serve as mentors for Coloradan facilitators-in-training during the proposed 6-month training license.
For more information, follow Psychedelic Alpha’s Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act Tracker for the latest news from the NMAB and its subcommittee meetings.
> Read More
Calling all Oregon Psilocybin Service Center Operators!
Would you like your service center to reach more prospective clients? The Healing Advocacy Fund is collecting service center contact information to better connect clients with service centers.This resource will exist on the Healing Advocacy Fund website, will be shared through our newsletter, through our social media channels, and with interested media organizations. This list will be considered a current snapshot of service centers who would like to OPT- IN to sharing their contact information, including email address, phone number, and the city their service center is located.
If you would like to opt-in to sharing your service center information, please fill out the contact form by Friday, January 26th at 5pm. Please make sure to enter your information before the deadline, as we will only collect this information once, and this will not be available for updates after the deadline. We are hopeful that in time, there will be more resources for clients to connect with service centers.
> Fill out the Google form
EVENTS
Webinar Series: Natural Psychedelic Medicines for Mental Health Providers
Colorado Mental Health Providers: Have you registered for our upcoming Natural Psychedelic Medicines for Mental Health webinar series?
We’re thrilled to partner with Mental Health Colorado to deliver a free 4-part series for providers to better understand new law and provide a strong foundation on the research-backed therapeutic potential of natural medicines.
Our first session, “Psychedelics for Mental Health,” is January 25, 2024 from 12:00 - 1:30 PM MT where we’ll share an overview of Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act, including how the program rules are shaping up, and dive into the research on psilocybin therapies.
Future sessions in February and March will cover stories of healing, psychedelic facilitator training, and integrative approaches to pre- and post-care with psychedelics – including creative models from Oregon. All sessions will include time for Q&A. Space is filling up quickly so be sure to register today!
> Register: "Natural Psychedelic Medicines for Mental Health” on Jan. 25
> Register: "Stories of Healing" on Feb. 15
> Register: "Training for Psychedelic Facilitators" on Feb. 28
> Register: "It Takes a Village: Integrative Approaches to Maximize the Benefits of Psychedelic Therapies" on March 14
RESOURCES
New Educational Tool from Psychedelics and Pain Association
Interested in learning more about how psychedelics can reduce chronic pain? Check out the Psychedelics & Pain Association, a newly launched collaborative project between Psychedelics Today, Clusterbusters and REMAP Therapeutics – and sign up for their free online course “Introduction to Psychedelics for Chronic Pain.” This course is primarily intended for facilitators and healthcare providers, but is open to anyone with interest in learning how psychedelic medicines can be used to reduce chronic pain and suffering.
> Learn More
IN THE NEWS
People to Watch 2024: Joshua Kappel Pushes Psychedelics Policy
Westword
After developing a "deep relationship" with psychedelics and being approached to help with the effort to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in Denver about five years ago, Kappel began wading deeper into psychedelics and away from cannabis.
Now, a year after pushing through the most comprehensive set of psychedelics reform laws in the country's history, Kappel finds himself consulting on similar efforts across the United States, with influential roles in Massachusetts's current psychedelic initiative and as an advisor to the Healing Advocacy Fund, an organization that helps with the implementation of new psychedelic laws in both Colorado and Oregon.
> Read the article
Oregon Psilocybin Advocates Reflect on Therapy Program's First Year
Jefferson Public Radio
Six hundred patients have participated in Oregon's first-in-the-nation psilocybin therapy program since May. This year, Oregon became the first state to introduce psilocybin therapy, and industry leaders say they’ve been learning as they go. Psilocybin is the psychedelic compound found in "magic mushrooms." Following the approval of Measure 109, it’s now legal to consume it in a service center with a state-licensed professional.
Since the first facility in Oregon opened to the public this May, 600 patients have participated in the program. And in 2024, the Healing Advocacy Fund predicts at least 2,000 more people will join in.
> Listen to the Show
"It's Saved Lives": Offering Guided Psilocybin Journeys a New Mission for Washington County Vet
KGW TV
The therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms has been legal for more than year in Oregon, and places where people can go and try it continue to pop up. The latest service center to open is Brain Brew PDX in the Beaverton area.
Ben Kramer works as the assistant manager and facilitator at the Washington County service center. He’s a veteran with a heart to help other vets. He knows what it’s like to have to adapt after serving in the military. “I think the hardest part is transitioning out of the military and just try to be a normal person again. That’s when it really got difficult,” said Kramer.
> Read the article