The psychedelics proposal<\/a> as revised by senators would establish what\u2019s being called the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury Alternative Therapies Fund. As originally introduced, the legislation did not include the traumatic brain injury language.<\/p>\n [embedded content]<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI feel very strongly that this bill has the potential to save lives,\u201d Elfreth said in her opening remarks to delegates on Monday. \u201cUnfortunately, an average of 22 veterans a day in this country commit suicide. We have a lot more work ahead of us to provide adequate mental health support to those veterans and our heroes returning to this country.\u201d<\/p>\n Elfreth pointed to ongoing trials into the benefits of psychedelics at Johns Hopkins University, located in Maryland, and other research institutions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard testimony in the Senate from a world-leading scientist doing these trials with the very positive results that they\u2019re seeing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Last month, the House Appropriations Committee considered nearly identical companion legislation<\/a> sponsored by Del. Seth Howard (R). Members on that panel adopted several amendments to more closely align the legislation in both chambers, though that legislative vehicle did not advance ahead of the crossover deadline, with the focus now being on the similar Senate bill.<\/p>\n \u2014 The legislation that the committee discussed on Monday stipulates that funds must be used to study \u201cthe use of alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n Further, it seeks to provide \u201ccost-free access\u201d to psychedelics for eligible veterans.<\/p>\n The state Department of Health would be required to \u201cperiodically\u201d consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Sheppard Pratt hospital and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.<\/p>\n The purpose of the partnerships would be to determine the \u201ceffectiveness of and a method for improving access to alternative therapies for treating\u201d PTSD and traumatic brain injury in veterans. They would also consult on \u201cappropriate uses of the fund that further the fund\u2019s purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n The department would need to first submit a report to the governor and legislation with \u201cinitial findings and recommendations\u201d by December 1, 2022. Two years later, there would be another deadline for findings and recommendations that are based on studies that were specifically funded through the PTSD fund.<\/p>\n The recommendations would focus on \u201cbudgetary, legislative, or regulatory changes to expand access to alternative therapies for veterans with post\u2013traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries,\u201d the bill text states.<\/p>\n For fiscal year 2024, the bill calls for the governor to include $1 million in an annual budget bill for the fund.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an unorthodox bill, and I completely understand that,\u201d the Senate sponsor said. \u201cBut these treatments will not be funded by the federal [Department of Veterans Affairs] anytime soon. We are in crisis mode as it relates to, unfortunately, the high rate of suicide amongst our veterans community. This is an unorthodox bill for a critical problem that we need to address.\u201d<\/p>\n Maryland is one of numerous states where psychedelics reform is being taken up this session.<\/p>\n Last week, for example, Georgia lawmakers advanced a bipartisan resolution that calls for the formation of a House study committee to investigate the therapeutic potential of psychedelics<\/a> like psilocybin and make recommendations for reforms.<\/p>\n The governor of Utah last month signed a bill to create a task force to study and make recommendations on the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs<\/a> and possible regulations for their lawful use.<\/p>\n A Missouri House committee also held a hearing last month on a GOP-led bill to legalize a wide range of psychedelics for therapeutic use<\/a> at designated care facilities while further decriminalizing low-level possession in general.<\/p>\n A Connecticut legislative committee approved a bill last month that would set the state up to provide certain patients with access to psychedelic-assisted treatment<\/a> with substances like MDMA and psilocybin. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed a separate bill last year that includes language requiring the state to carry out a study into the therapeutic potential<\/a> of psilocybin mushrooms. A workgroup<\/a> has since been meeting to investigate the issue.<\/p>\n The Washington State legislature recently sent a budget bill to the governor\u2019s desk that includes a proposal to direct $200,000 in funding to support a new workgroup<\/a> to study the possibility of legalizing psilocybin services in the state, including the idea of using current marijuana regulatory systems to track psychedelic mushrooms.<\/p>\n Last month, the Hawaii Senate approved a bill to set up a state working group to study the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin mushrooms<\/a> and develop a \u201clong-term\u201d plan to ensure that the psychedelic is accessible for medical use for adults 21 and older.<\/p>\n Also last month, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill to decriminalize low-level possession of psilocybin<\/a> and promote research into the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic.<\/p>\n Rhode Island lawmakers introduced a pair of drug decriminalization bills last month<\/a>\u2014including one focused on psilocybin and buprenorphine that would authorize doctors to prescribe the psychedelic mushroom.<\/p>\n An Oregon Senate committee also recently advanced a bill to ensure that equity is built into the state\u2019s historic therapeutic psilocybin program<\/a> that\u2019s actively being implemented following voter approval in 2020.<\/p>\n A bill to decriminalize a wide array of psychedelics in Virginia was taken up by a House of Delegates panel in January, only to be pushed off until 2023<\/a>. A separate Senate proposal to decriminalize psilocybin alone was later defeated in a key committee<\/a>.<\/p>\n California Sen. Scott Wiener (D) told Marijuana Moment in a recent interview that his bill to legalize psychedelics possession<\/a> stands a 50\/50 chance of reaching the governor\u2019s desk this year. It already cleared the full Senate and two Assembly committees during the first half of the two-year session.<\/p>\n Washington State lawmakers also introduced legislation in January<\/a> that would legalize what the bill calls \u201csupported psilocybin experiences\u201d by adults 21 and older.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a Pennsylvania bill meant to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin mushrooms for certain mental health conditions may be in jeopardy, with the sponsor saying that the chair of a key House committee is expressing reservations even after the legislation<\/a> was amended in an effort to build support.<\/p>\n New Hampshire lawmakers filed measures to decriminalize psilocybin and all drugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Legislation was also enacted by the Texas legislature<\/a> last year requiring the state to study the medical risks and benefits of psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and a military-focused medical center.<\/p>\n In a setback for the movement, California activists recently announced that they have come up short on collecting enough signatures to qualify a measure to legalize psilocybin mushrooms<\/a> for the state\u2019s November ballot, though they aren\u2019t giving up on a future election cycle bid.<\/p>\n Colorado activists, meanwhile, recently selected one of the four psychedelics reform ballot initiatives that they drafted and filed for the November ballot, choosing to proceed with a measure to legalize psilocybin<\/a>, create licensed \u201chealing centers\u201d where people can use the psychedelic for therapeutic purposes and provide a pathway for record sealing for prior convictions. A competing campaign filed a different psychedelics legalization<\/a>.<\/p>\n Michigan activists have launched a mass signature drive to place a measure on this November\u2019s statewide ballot to legalize possessing, cultivating and sharing psychedelics<\/a> while setting up a system for their therapeutic and spiritual use. The state Board of State Canvassers certified the latest version of initiative last month.<\/p>\n At the local level, a third Michigan city, Hazel Park, approved a measure last week to decriminalize psychedelics<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the congressional level, bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in January, urging that the agency allow terminally ill patients to use psilocybin<\/a> as an investigational treatment without the fear of federal prosecution.<\/p>\n Democratic Cannabis Caucus Leaders Say GOP Co-Chair\u2019s Vote Against Legalization Bill Is No Reason For Alarm<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype<\/a> and Apollo<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
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