The Governor of New Mexico signed a bipartisan Resolution that requested state officials to research the therapeutic potential psilocybin, and to explore the creation a regulatory framework for providing access to this psychedelic.
Governor. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, gave the final approval to it on Thursday. The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee also unanimously approved the resolution.
The proposal is not binding because it’s “memorial legislation”. It is a formal request to the Department of Health of the State of California to “study the effectiveness of using psilocybin mushroom for therapeutic treatments, and establish a program to use psilocybin for therapeutic medical treatment.”
The resolution’s whereas section cites numerous studies that support the therapeutic benefits psilocybin has for conditions like major depression and drug abuse, and points out that the FDA has classified the psychedelic a “breakthrough treatment.”
The measure also states that, to that end the Health Department should examine “necessary regulatory or statutory framework” for developing a psilocybin state program.
Steinborn, speaking before last week’s floor vote, said that psilocybin has been proven medically effective for major behavioral health problems. It can be a good alternative to antidepressants and other drugs with serious side effects, and it can provide real relief for New Mexicans.
Brandt stated that psilocybin is not a therapy that one would take every day, every week, or every month. Instead, it could be done every six months or every year as needed.
He said that sometimes, one treatment can be enough to cure someone from a traumatic head injury or PTSD. This is a cutting-edge, exciting technology… God has provided a cure and we only need to find out how to use it.
Researchers and advocates spoke in support of legislation at the committee hearing. They urged lawmakers to make New Mexico the leader of psychedelics-related research, especially as the public’s interest is growing about the potential for substances like psilocybin (and other psychedelics) to treat mental health issues.
Before the bill was passed, the committee adopted a resolution stating that the department of health should partner with the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center to conduct psilocybin-related research.
The Senate passed the psychedelics bill one year after the House Health and Human Services Committee had passed a similar measure that called for a state agency to investigate the possibility of launching an psilocybin treatment program for certain patients. This measure, however, did not progress further in the session of 2023.
In this session, a growing number of state legislatures are working on psychedelics legislation reform. They focus primarily on therapeutic access and research.
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A senator from Illinois introduced a bill to legalize and regulate access to psilocybin at service centers within the state, where adults can use the psychedelic under supervision. The program will eventually include mescaline and ibogaine.
The bill was sent to the Arizona Senate floor after a second bipartisan committee approved it. It would legalize the establishment of psilocybin services centers, where individuals could obtain the psychedelic under medical supervision.
Last week, a Senate Committee in Alaska advanced a bill to create a taskforce to investigate how to license and regulate psychedelic assisted therapy . This is to prepare for eventual federal legalization.
Hawaii lawmakers are also advancing a bill that would provide some legal protections for patients who engage in psilocybin assisted therapy after a doctor’s approval.
A Republican-led Indiana House committee voted last week to approve a bill that funds clinical research trials on psilocybin. The bill has already been approved by the Senate.
Recently, bipartisan California legislators introduced a bill that would legalize psychedelic services centers, where adults aged 21 and over could have access to psilocybin MDMA mescaline DMT and other psychedelics in a supervised environment and with trained facilitators.
Last month, a joint Nevada legislative committee heard expert testimony and public testimony about the therapeutic potential for 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.
The Governor of Massachusetts recently promoted the testimony from activists who spoke out in support of her veterans’ bill. This bill would, among other things, create a work group for psychedelics to investigate the therapeutic potentials of substances like psilocybin.
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.
Last month, a Missouri House Committee considered a proposed that would allow the medical use psilocybin within the state as well as mandate clinical trials to explore the therapeutic potential.
Photo courtesy Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.
The article New Mexico Governor signs Psilocybin Treatment and Research Resolution first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
