Category: The Psychedelic News

The Connecticut Public Health Committee unanimously approved a bill (House Bill 5396) that, if passed into law, would pave the way for the use of psilocybin and MDMA in the treatment of mental health issues. Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms,” while MDMA, also known as “molly” or ecstasy, is a synthetic, psychoactive drug that alters mood and perception.

Studies show that both substances have great potential in managing severe mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD when used in conjunction with traditional therapy in what has come to be known as psychedelic-assisted therapy.

The legislation would require the state to set up three specialized treatment sites and fund a pilot program for psychedelic-assisted therapy that would provide “qualified” patients with access to psilocybin- or MDMA-assisted therapy through the FDA’s expanded access program.

Individuals who fall under the “qualified” patients group are retired first responders, veterans, healthcare workers, and individuals from historically underserved communities with serious or life-threatening behavioral/mental health disorders and no access to effective treatments.

The committee arrived at a decision after carefully considering oral and written testimonies presented during a public hearing. The majority of the testimonies came from people with personal experience with mental health issues, who provided compelling arguments about how psychedelics have helped them address and manage their conditions more effectively than traditional medicines.

The bill represents a bold move to increase access to reliable mental health treatments in the state amid a glaring national mental health crisis that the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated. The unanimous, bipartisan decision by the committee reflects a growing consensus on the urgency to combat the mental health crisis by embracing new and innovative treatment methods.

“Most of us are aware that we had both access and quality issues with mental health before the pandemic hit us,” said Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, who also serves as the committee’s co-chair. “It took the pandemic to highlight the real gaps and shortcomings in supply and access to mental health care. It obliged us to be more open-minded and a little creative. It also led us to look with fresh eyes at alternative therapies.”

The bill is not aimed at legalizing psychedelic substances but rather to help set up a guiding framework for the state to provide access to these potentially lifesaving treatments as private and federal entities continue to invest and facilitate research and clinical trials.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy may not be a silver bullet for the ongoing mental health crisis, but they offer hope where there is currently little to be found. If enacted, this will be an important step in the right direction for mental health treatment as it will provide an alternative approach to a problem that has remained under-addressed and often overlooked for far too long. And although the FDA’s expanded access program is still inherently restrictive, the new law would pave the way for increased access.

DecrimPovertyDC, a coalition of progressive activist groups, has sparked nationwide attention with its ambitious effort to push for drug policy reform in the nation’s capital. The coalition has brought together a range of organizations that all share a common goal- to see an end to the mass incarceration of people caught up in the “War on Drugs.”

When it comes to drug policies, the United States is woefully behind the times. While other countries have been moving towards a more public health-centered approach, the United States continues to invest billions of dollars in a failed “war” that has led to the mass incarceration of thousands of people, particularly low-income and marginalized communities.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Honoring Individual Power and Strength (HIPS), and D.C. Justice Lab are just some of the organizations that have come together to form DecrimPovertyDC. The group has already made a splash, launching a legislative proposal and organizing a series of rallies and lobbying events to push for a number of reforms, including the decriminalization of all drugs, expanded harm reduction and public health intervention services, and investment in evidence-based education programs focused on harm reduction.

“We have 50 years of experience to show us what an enforcement-first approach to drugs gets us – record overdose deaths, skyrocketing mass incarceration, and severe racial inequality. To continue down this path is not only irresponsible but cruel and inhumane,” Queen Adesuyi, who serves as Policy Manager for the Office of National Affairs at the DPA, is quoted as saying.

The legislative proposal, named the District of Columbia Drug Policy Reform Act (D.C DPRA), calls for a comprehensive and humane drug policy that prioritizes public health and safety. If enacted, the proposal recommends that people found in possession of controlled substances – that are below a certain benchmark amount (yet to be determined), would no longer face criminal penalties, but would, instead, receive a citation and be referred to a harm reduction center.

“The goal of DecrimPovertyDC is to decriminalize poverty by working to end stigma, violence, criminalization, and other forms of oppression against people who are targeted by the state for ‘crimes of poverty,’ including drug use, sex work, housing insecurity, citizenship station, and incarceration history,” HIPS spokesperson Righteous-Rogers, is quoted as saying.

This approach has proven to be more effective than criminalization in reducing drug use and its associated harms. Baltimore recently ceased prosecuting drug possession, among other minor, non-violent crimes like prostitution, and is yet to record an uptick in crime rates or increased threats to public safety, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

This is in line with decades of research that shows decriminalization does not lead to more crime. Portugal, for instance, underwent decriminalization in 2000 and has since recorded a dramatic decline in drug-related crime and fatal overdoses.

DecrimPovertyDC believes that it is time for our nation’s capital to catch up with the rest of the world and pioneer a more sensible and humane approach to drug policy.

According to the DecrimPovertyDC campaign, the impact of laws criminalizing possession and use of drugs “extends far beyond the criminal legal system, as people face an array of punishments in employment, housing, education, immigration, child welfare, and public benefits – all of which can trap people in poverty.”

All these factors make recovery and re-entry into the community unnecessarily difficult for those with drug convictions, which in turn contributes to repeat offenses, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and criminal convictions.

The campaign has been met with open arms by some members of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), a non-profit organization made up of former and current corrections officials, judges, prosecutors, and police officers committed to improving the criminal justice system.

Evan Douglas, a retired D.C. patrol officer and member of the LEAP, has expressed his unwavering support for the D.C. DPRA. He cited that, after witnessing firsthand all the ills brought about by tough-on-crime policies and a criminal justice system that prioritizes punishment, “the only way forward” is through decriminalization, drug education, implementation of public health interventions and harm control, and record sealing.

Members of the public in D.C. (District of Columbia) have also expressed great support for drug policy reform, according to a survey conducted by FM3 Research. The poll shows that 83% of the participants favor the decriminalization of drugs, with 65% strongly backing far-reaching drug policy reform.

It is evident that a criminalized approach to the so-called war on drugs creates a system that is rigged against those who are already marginalized. It is time for lawmakers in D.C. to enact a more sensible and humane drug policy that does not condemn offenders to lifelong consequences, as proposed by the DecrimPovertyDC campaign.

“Magic mushrooms” have been used for centuries for healing, religious, and spiritual purposes. But after being “unfairly” stigmatized in the US during the 1960s counterculture politics and later outlawed, magic mushrooms seem to be making a comeback.

There is growing evidence that “magic mushrooms” could be instrumental in treating mental and behavioral health issues. Recent studies show that psilocybin, the psychedelic substance found in the so-called magic mushrooms, could revolutionize the world of mental health treatments.

Apparently, classic psychedelics like psilocybin and LSD can help “rewire” the brain in ways that could play a role in long-term recovery from severe psychological and behavioral health issues like anxiety, depression, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder when used under supervision.

“…rather than just masking a symptom, it allows you to go and look at the cause of the problem and figure out the best way to address that moving forward,” said Eric Gaden, a veteran and nurse – who testified in front of Washington lawmakers in favor of psilocybin legalization.

Currently, psilocybin is a Schedule I drug, meaning it is illegal in the United States. But this might soon be a thing of the past. There is a growing wave of support for decriminalizing magic mushrooms, and lawmakers are starting to take notice.

In 2020, Oregon voters passed a ballot initiative to legalize the supervised use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes. This move has since become a pacesetter, with multiple legislative proposals seeking to legalize psychedelics or facilitate psychedelic research popping up in Connecticut, California, Utah, New Jersey, Texas, Missouri, and New Jersey.

Surprisingly, what has been viewed as a taboo and fringe issue for decades is quickly gaining mainstream traction and most of the legislative proposals are receiving unanimous, bipartisan support at the preliminary stages.

In mid-march, Connecticut’s Public Health Committee unanimously approved a bill looking to legalize and provide funding for a pilot program that will give “qualifying” patients access to psilocybin- and MDMA- assisted therapy. A similar bill seeking to grant universities and research institutions in Oklahoma the right to conduct psilocybin research also received similar support from the state’s Public Health Committee.

Recent polls, including one conducted in D.C. by FM3 Research, have divulged that an overwhelming majority of voters would be much more likely to vote for leaders who embrace drug policy reforms. By the looks of things, the same playbook that was used to legalize and destigmatize cannabis is in play again, this time in favor of the “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic substances. Lawmakers and members of the public are slowly but surely coming around to the idea that these psychedelic substances have immense medicinal value.

And with more studies and clinical trials showing evidence of their efficacy, everything seems to be moving on a positive path, and it’s only a matter of time before more and more states follow in the footsteps of Oregon. The FDA has also described psilocybin as a breakthrough treatment, a designation that carries plenty of promise.

However, not everyone is on board with the idea of legalizing psychedelics. Some have chosen to tread carefully, while others have rebuffed the idea. For instance, the State of Washington decided to shelve a bill that, if enacted, would have legalized supervised use of psilocybin by adults above 21 years of age. Instead, the state lawmakers allocated a substantial budget to psilocybin research and how to effectively implement a legal psilocybin treatment program.

On the other hand, the U.S. House of Representatives has, on two occasions, rebuffed an amendment tabled by New York lawmaker Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) that sought to get rid of “old” laws that restrict psychedelics research.

So it would seem that we are still in the early stages of what might prove to be a protracted battle to legalize and destigmatize the use of psychedelic substances for medicinal purposes.

But with more support and positive evidence, it seems inevitable that at some point in the near future, psilocybin and other psychedelics may be legally available for the treatment of severe and life-threatening behavioral and mental health disorders in most states, at the very least.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, a major player in the soap industry, has recently announced that they will be providing free ketamine-assisted therapy to their employees as part of their healthcare benefits.

Ketamine-assisted therapy is a relatively new development in the field of mental health treatment. It has proven to be highly effective in managing a wide range of hard-to-treat mental illnesses, including severe depression, end-of-life anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The treatment involves using controlled ketamine infusions in a medical setting in combination with traditional counseling and therapy techniques to help individuals struggling with mental illness manage their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

The “magic soap” company- which has its headquarters in Vista, California – is an ardent proponent of drug decriminalization and a vocal supporter of the use of psychedelic medicines for their therapeutic benefits.

Over the years, the family-owned business has used the labels on their soap and personal care products as a unique advocacy tool for preaching world peace and enlightening the masses about the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Starting in 2015, they have channeled over $23 million to drug research, advocacy, and decriminalization/legalization efforts, as The New York Times reported. The company has also made headlines on several occasions in the past few years after being heavily involved in orchestrating and funding the successful push to legalize hemp cultivation in the United States and the legalization of the “magic” mushrooms for medicinal use in Oregon.

The decision to offer ketamine-assisted therapy as part of their employee healthcare benefits went into effect early this year and is seen as a natural extension of the company’s commitment to psychedelic research and drug policy reforms.

“Considering all our advocacy on this issue, this employee benefit is the next logical step,” Michael Bronner, the President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, tweeted. “I don’t want to oversell ketamine therapy as a miracle cure, but it just stripped the rust away, gave me a reset, and got me to a really good space,” he added, referring to his experience with the treatment.

This move also comes at a time when psychedelic research is experiencing a resurgence, with more and more evidence mounting in support of the potential psychological and behavioral health benefits of different kinds of psychedelics.

The rise in research into psychedelics has also been spurred on by the discovery that classic psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin could revolutionize the way we view and treat mental and behavioral health disorders.

David Bronner, the company’s CEO (Cosmic Engagement Officer), is also very passionate about drug decriminalization and the use of psychedelics for their medicinal effects. “Let’s face it, the world would be a far better place if more people experienced psychedelic medicines,” he is quoted as saying.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps is only the first major company to offer ketamine-assisted therapy as part of their employee healthcare benefits. Still, it’s likely we will see more and more companies follow suit in the coming years as psychedelic research and legalization efforts continue to gain mainstream traction.

Just months after Governor Daniel McKee of Rhode Island signed into law a bill proposing the establishment of what will be the country’s first overdose prevention sites, lawmakers in the Ocean State have launched two drug decriminalization bills in what may be seen as an accelerated effort to adopt more progressive drug policies.

This comes at a time when the “War on Drugs” has failed terribly, for a large part, and more and more states are leaning towards drug decriminalization and public health-centered interventions as a way to address problems associated with drug use and addiction.

One of the bills, sponsored by representative Brandon Potter (D), looks to build on the existing marijuana decriminalization policy by including both buprenorphine and psilocybin on the list of restricted substances whose possession doesn’t amount to a criminal penalty in the state.

Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound found in psychedelic “magic” mushrooms, which has shown incredible potential in helping manage severe mental disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD and could be instrumental in mitigating the widespread mental health crisis in the country. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, is a type of opioid medication that has shown great success in treating opioid addiction.

But unlike marijuana which doctors can only “recommend” to avoid any licensing repercussions, the proposed bill would give qualified medical professionals the green light to, “in good faith,” prescribe psilocybin for therapeutic use. The proposal also gives the director of health the mandate to promulgate the rules and regulations needed to effect this provision if passed into law.

The second bill was sponsored by representative Jose Batista (D) and looks to implement a far-reaching drug policy reform that would prevent criminal prosecution or jail time for possession of up to 1 oz. (one ounce) or less of any substance listed in The Controlled Substances Act (CSA), with the exception of fentanyl.

According to the bill, a violator would be subject to a $100 civil penalty for first-time offenders and $300 fines for any subsequent offenses. This is a significant departure from the current policy where individuals caught in possession of drugs can face criminal prosecution and jail time, in addition to other punitive measures such as fines, and community service.

Both bills, if passed into law, would put Rhode Island at the forefront of drug decriminalization efforts and send a clear message that the state is willing to abandon failed punitive drug policies in favor of progressive laws and evidence-based intervention measures which can help save lives and improve public health.

Rhode Island is also nearing marijuana legalization for recreational use by adults in the state. This push to legalize marijuana is spearheaded by Governor Dan McKee (D) and would bring Rhode Island to par with over 20 other US states which have already adopted similar measures.

It is indeed a new dawn for drug policy reform in Rhode Island, and it will be interesting to see how these bills progress through the state legislature.