SEATTLE — Washington psychonauts will have to wait at least another year before therapy using psychedelic mushrooms is broadly legalized in the Evergreen state, but legislators could still approve a small pilot program to give veterans and first responders early access to the treatment.
During the 2022 legislative session, Sen. Jesse Salomon, a Democrat, originally sponsored a bill modeled after Oregon's Measure 109, which created a framework for mental health practitioners or "guides" to lead people on psychedelic trips after ingesting psilocybin. Oregon became the first state to allow adult use of psilocybin on Jan. 1.
The hallucinogenic compound naturally occurs in many species of mushrooms that grow in the Northwest and other regions around the world. When ingested, it produces powerful effects from changes in vision, thoughts and emotions.
