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.
The use of psychedelic mushrooms has gained recognition for its potential benefits in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Researchers believe that psilocybin, the hallucinogenic component found in psychedelic mushrooms, shows promise in therapeutic contexts. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated psilocybin as a 'breakthrough therapy' in 2018 and published draft guidance to assist researchers in designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs.
Although Colorado and Oregon have already decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms and implemented regulated systems for therapeutic use, California has only seen limited decriminalization in cities like San Francisco, Oakland, and Santa Cruz. Wiener and Waldron's bill seeks to create a state licensing board that would regulate therapeutic services in California, thereby bringing current underground therapists 'above ground.'
It is worth noting that the proposed legislation does not allow for personal possession and use, as the drugs would still remain illegal under federal law. However, proponents of the bill argue that California lawmakers have the authority to authorize regulated psychedelic therapy, just as they have done in the past with therapeutic cannabis use for illnesses such as cancer or HIV.
The bipartisan bill has garnered support from various organizations. Heroic Hearts Project, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans overcome trauma, is sponsoring the legislation. Marine Corps veteran and board member of Heroic Hearts Project, Juliana Mercer, shared her personal experience of using psychedelics to manage her PTSD, highlighting the potential benefits of regulated psychedelic therapy. The California Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education, which previously opposed the decriminalization measure, has also come out in support of the new bill, emphasizing the importance of balancing potential benefits with public health risks.
If the bill becomes law, proponents estimate that it would take 18 to 24 months to fully implement the program. Additionally, an education program would be established to combat the stigma surrounding psychedelic substances.
By introducing this legislation, California lawmakers are aiming to provide a regulated and supervised framework for the use of psychedelic mushrooms and other hallucinogenic substances as a means to address mental health and substance use challenges in the state. With growing recognition of the potential benefits of psychedelics in therapeutic settings, proponents believe that these substances have the power to assist individuals in reclaiming their mental well-being.
