Nevada psychedelics advocates say they had a “productive” meeting with the Republican Governor’s Office about the necessity to quickly form a taskforce under a new law passed earlier this year to inform future reforms, including the possible legalization plant-based medicine.
About six months after Gov. Joe Lombardo has signed into law legislation establishing a Psychedelics Medicines Working group. Members have yet to be formally appointed, and there have been no scheduled meetings, despite a mandate that the body issue a policy report by the end 2024.
Jon Dalton, co-founder of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines and Kate Cotter, the NCPM’s other co-founders met with Lombardo’s staff last month to discuss the urgency in filling the vacancies. They also discussed how they could begin the work and ensure that lawmakers were adequately informed about the issue so they can consider further reforms during the 2025 legislative sessions.
Cotter, speaking to Marijuana Moment, said that “our dialogue focused on the necessity for legalized access and the collaborative effort required with law-enforcement to increase awareness of the risks and benefits associated with these substances.” “We hope that the governor will appoint the members of the working group within the next few weeks.”
The law Lombardo enacted in June required the creation of a work group of 15 members under the Department of Health and Human Services of the state. This group was tasked to study the science of psychedelics, “including, but not limited” to psilocybin and psilocin, in the treatment of mental disorders such as PTSD and substance use disorder and in the end-of-life care.
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.”
The law stipulates that the Task Force is required to carry out its work in the interim period 2023-2024 before submitting findings and recommendations by the legislator on December 31, 2024.
The Governor’s Office will have to fill seven out of 15 vacancies. These members must include a veteran who has used psychedelics in the treatment of PTSD and a psychiatrist, a clinician with clinical experience in treating PTSD and a scientist, a tribal member, an advocate for psychedelics and a law enforcer.
The working group will also include the Nevada Board of Pharmacology president, the director of Veterans Services, the director of HHS and the attorney general of Nevada. The majority and minority leader of each legislative chamber will appoint four additional members.
Cotter, NCPM’s spokesperson, said that “many legislative efforts culminated in the creation of working groups charged with assessing how to best harness the remarkable potential of drugs such as MDMA and psilocybin.” We expect that this group, once formed, will examine carefully the approaches taken in Oregon and Colorado as well as highlighting the advances made by organizations such MAPS to produce a positive report.
Cotter stated that “this report will highlight the need to modernize outdated laws pertaining to drug policy.”
Nevada is among the states that have established investigatory panels and pilot projects focused on psychedelics in response to growing public interest and a desire to end criminalization of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.
A study group in Indiana’s legislature is urging lawmakers to authorise a psilocybin-assisted treatment pilot program in 2024.
In November, the governor of Massachusetts introduced a bill to establish a working group on psychedelics to study and provide recommendations regarding potential therapeutic benefits for veterans of substances such as psilocybin or MDMA. The bill comes as supporters wait for the state to verify signatures submitted by them in support of a ballot initiative that would legalize psychedelics in 2024.
New York legislators recently introduced a bill to create pilot program for psilocybin treatment to 10,000 people. The focus is on veterans and first responders.
Marijuana Moment tracks more than 1,000 cannabis and psychedelics bills, as well as drug policy legislation in state legislatures this year. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
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Lombardo announced recently that , he has selected a new top regulatory for the state’s cannabis industry.
Nevada officials also adopted a proposed amendment to the hiring standards for officers, allowing job candidates previously disqualified due to certain marijuana-related crimes now to be eligible for law enforcement jobs.
A new law went into effect on Monday that made several changes to the marijuana laws, including increasing the limit of personal possession in the state and expanding eligibility for cannabis business licenses.
In May, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to submit a proposed regulatory amendement to the Governor to protect athletes against being penalized for using or possessing cannabis in compliance with the state law.
This summer, regulators began to approve the first conditional licenses for marijuana consumption lounges .
New York Retailers sold 3.5 million marijuana products in the first year of legalization, state report says
The post Nevada’s GOP Governor’s Office Discusses Psychedelics Work Group Vacancies with Advocates Amid Calls for Broader Legalization first appeared on Marijuana Minute.
