A committee of the Arizona House has approved a measure to prevent $5 million from funding psilocybin-related research being redistributed due to a budget deficit in the state.
The House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee, as the state attempts to resolve a funding gap of hundreds of thousand dollars, passed a resolution from Rep. Kevin Payne, (R), which would prevent the psychedelic money from expiring until July 2026 at the very least. The measure was approved by a vote of 11-3.
Payne sponsored legislation that was enacted by the Governor last year as part of an appropriations package that mandated the research of the medical potentials of psilocybin mushroom for a number of conditions, such as post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and long COVID symptoms.
He had proposed a separate bill which would have provided $30 million to fund the research. However, the lower amount was eventually appropriated as part of the overall budget agreement.
The lawmaker wants to make sure that these dollars aren’t temporarily redirected in the government’s effort to close the budget deficit.
Payne stated during the Monday committee hearing that consistent funding is important for grants due to the time commitment researchers make to complete these studies. The current appropriations will expire in the summer.
He said, “They’ll be half way through the study when the money runs out and they won’t get paid at any point.” “There will be no studies done unless this bill is passed.”
Andrew Dean, a U.S. Air Force veteran and director of Citizens for Psilocybin , testified for the legislation. He stated that the bill will “help our vets and frontline EMS staff get the help they need and deserve.”
The provisions that promote psilocybin are being actively implemented. The first meeting of the Psilocybin Advisory Council, which was created under the Arizona Department of Health Services, took place in November last year prior to the open application period.
The money will be given to applicants who submit proposals that focus on clinical trials to identify therapeutic applications for 13 conditions that may receive FDA approval.
Payne’s new bill makes a few other mostly technical changes, such as allowing grant applicants to apply for funding to conduct active clinical trials. It also ensures that the required physician member of the advisory board has experience in studying drugs listed on Schedule I under federal Controlled Substances Act.
Grant money is given to researchers who have studied psilocybin under the approval of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. These trials must involve veterans, first-responders, health workers, and members of underserved groups.
Arizona is one of many states that has worked to promote research on psychedelics in response to the growing interest among the public for expanding access to therapeutic use and ending criminalization.
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Last week, for example, the Nevada Joint Legislative Committee held an hearing that included expert testimony and public testimony about the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin. Law enforcement officials also expressed their concerns about legalization. However, there was a notable acknowledgment that reforms could be implemented including rescheduling.
Last week, an Indiana Senate Committee unanimously approved a measure that would finance clinical research trials for psilocybin assisted therapy in mental health.
Last November, the governor of Massachusetts introduced a bill to establish a working group on psychedelics to make 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.
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The post Arizona Lawmakers Approve a Bill to Protect $5 Million in Psilocybin research funding amid budget shortfall first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
