The Governor of Nevada signed a bill that creates a working group for the study of psychedelics, and to develop a plan for regulated access to therapeutic purposes.
Gov. Joe Lombardo, (R), approved the legislation of Sen. Rochelle (D) Nguyen on Monday only one week after the bill cleared the legislature.
The measure was introduced with the intention of legalizing psilocybin, promoting research into the psychedelic and encouraging studies on MDMA — , but it has been significantly reduced in a Senate Committee.
The revised measure creates a new law that focuses on forming a Psychedelics Medicines Working group to examine the use entheogens in “medicinal, therapeutic and improved wellness.”
The sponsor acknowledged that the law was likely to be amended at an initial hearing of the committee in March. She stated that she would accept changes and that her primary goal was to start a discussion in the legislature on psychedelic reform.
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The bill, as enacted by the legislature, will establish a 15 member working group under the Department of Health and Human Services of the state. This group is tasked to study the science of psychedelics, “including but without limitation” psilocybin and psilocin, in the treatment of mental disorders such as PTSD and substance abuse disorder and major depression disorder, and at the end of life.
The group must also examine federal, state, and local laws that govern the therapeutic use of psychoactives. They will then need to develop “actionable plans on how to enable affordable and safe access to therapeutic compounds and entheogens.”
By December 31, 2024, they will have to present a report with their findings to the Legislature.
The members of the working group include the Attorney General, Director of HHS, Director of Veterans Services, and President of the Nevada Board of Pharmacology or their designees. The majority and minority leader of each chamber will appoint four additional members. The governor will appoint seven more members that meet certain criteria.
The Governor will have to choose a veteran who has personal experience using psychedelics for treating post-traumatic disorder, as well as a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist with experience in substance abuse treatment. He may also want to include a researcher registered with the federal government and a representative from a Nevada tribe.
In a recent press release, Kate Cotter (executive director of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines) said that the passage of SB-242 was a “historic step forward” and showed Nevada’s readiness to take part in the discussion about how psychedelic medicine can be used to heal our communities and the state. “We are looking forward to helping the Working Group to access the healing benefits that psilocybin, and other entheogens can provide.”
Nevada has joined a growing number of states that are reforming psychedelics this session, as the interest in entheogenic drugs’ therapeutic potential grows.
The Rhode Island House of Representatives, for example, approved this week a bill to allow possession and cultivation of the psilocybin mushroom while taking steps to get ready for regulated access to therapeutic cannabis in anticipation of federal reform.
Last month, the governor of Minnesota approved a bill with similar provisions that would establish a task force to study psychedelics and prepare Minnesota for a possible legalization.
The California Senate passed a bill last month to legalize possession of certain psychedelics as well as facilitate the use of these substances.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, signed a law last month to create a regulatory structure for legal psychedelics in accordance with a voter-approved measure.
A North Carolina House Committee approved a bill last month to create a grant program of $5 million to support research on the potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, and to create a Breakthrough Therapies Research Advisory Board.
The governor of Washington State signed a bill to encourage research into psilocybin, and to create a pilot program to provide therapeutic access for mental health treatments to the psychedelic.
The Nevada legislature recently passed a resolution calling on Congress to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
The legislators have also sent to the governor a comprehensive marijuana reform bill which would double the limit on personal possession, consolidate licensing regulations and expand eligibility for people with previous felony convictions to participate in the market.
Washington spends $100 million to vacate 350,000 marijuana/drug convictions and reimburse people criminalized by unconstitutional law
Photo by Dick Culbert.
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