A pair of California lawmakers, Democratic Senator Scott Wiener and Republican Assemblymember Marie Waldron, introduced a bipartisan bill on Tuesday that aims to address the state's mental health and substance use crises. The bill proposes allowing individuals aged 21 and older to consume psychedelic mushrooms under the supervision of licensed therapists. The legislation also includes provisions for the use of other hallucinogenic substances such as dimethyltryptamine (DMT), MDMA, and mescaline.
This move comes after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill last year, which sought to decriminalize the possession and personal use of plant-based hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms. Newsom urged lawmakers to focus on developing therapeutic guidelines and regulations instead. Wiener and Waldron's new bill aligns with Newsom's vision and seeks to establish safeguards around psychedelic therapy while shifting the state's response to mental health crises away from criminalization.
