Another member said that the alarming rate of veteran suicide is \u201can issue that has touched all of us, and anything we can do, conventionally or alternatively, we should be doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
This latest action also comes days after the Maryland legislature agreed to put marijuana legalization on the state\u2019s November ballot<\/a> and sent the governor complementary legislation concerning initial rules for the program if voters approve the policy change.<\/p>\n The psychedelics proposal<\/a> would establish what\u2019s being called the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury Alternative Therapies Fund. It stipulates that money from that fund must be used to study \u201cthe use of alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n The Appropriations Committee on Monday took testimony on the legislation<\/a>, with the sponsor pointing to ongoing trials exploring the benefits of psychedelics at Johns Hopkins University, located in Maryland, and other research institutions.<\/p>\n Last month, the panel also considered nearly identical companion legislation<\/a> sponsored by Del. Seth Howard (R). Members at the time 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 bill 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 Maryland is one of numerous states where psychedelics reform is being taken up this session.<\/p>\n For example, a Colorado House committee on Tuesday approved a bill aligning state statute to legalize MDMA prescriptions<\/a> if and when the federal government ultimately permits such use. However, the House Public & Behavioral Health & Human Services Committee also rejected separate legislation to create a psychedelics review panel to study substances like psilocybin and DMT and issue recommendations on possible policy changes.<\/p>\n Last week, 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 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 Feds Clarify That Medical Marijuana Recommendations From Doctors Don\u2019t Excuse Positive Drug Tests<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype<\/a> and Apollo<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,000 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.<\/strong>![](\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maryland-house-gives-initial-approval-to-senate-passed-bill-to-fund-psychedelics-research-and-access-for-veterans-marijuana-moment.jpg\")
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