A California Senate committee approved a bill that would legalize certain psychedelics , and facilitate the use of these substances.
After a more extensive version of the legislation was rejected last session, Sen. Scott Wiener (D) filed the amended legislation in December. The Senate Public Safety Committee voted 3-1 on Tuesday. Next, it heads to the Appropriations Committee.
A Republican lawmaker filed a narrower Assembly bill to provide access to psychedelic treatment for military veterans. It has not yet been scheduled for any committee action.
The new, more comprehensive measure would allow the “possession preparation, obtaining, transfer and transportation of” certain amounts of psilocybin or psilocyn or DMT for personal or facilitated usage. Contrary to the provisions in the Wiener’s legislation, synthetic psychedelics such as LSD or MDMA will not be legalized.
The bill will allow personal possession to be legalized. It also provides for community-based healing and group counseling with entheogenic substances.
It would also repeal a state law that prohibits “any spores, mycelium capable producing mushrooms or any other material which contains psilocyn or psilocyn.” Additionally, the legislation would eliminate the state ban on drug paraphernalia related to the covered substances.
These drugs are not addictive. Wiener stated Tuesday that these drugs have the potential to help people who are suffering from mental health or substance abuse challenges navigate their way to recovery.
He stated that “We know that many cities in California have passed resolutions to make enforcement of certain criminal laws the lowest priority law enforcement priority.” California has taken an important step in this direction. This is about ensuring that people have the ability to access substances they need, but that they are not addictive.
Representatives of the Heroic Hearts Project and the California Public Defenders Association testified in support of the legislation. They also represented the City of West Hollywood, a clinical psychologist as well as harm reduction experts, nurses who could be deported for psychedelics possession, and many others. The California District Attorneys Association, and the San Diego District Attorneys Office are the opponents.
Wiener pulled the legislation from consideration after its main provisions were rewritten by an Assembly panel. The previous version passed the Senate.
At least two changes are made to the bill that was introduced last session.
First, it excludes synthetic psychedelics such as LSD and MDMA and instead focuses on substances that are derived only from plants and fungi.
Wiener attempted to salvage the legislation by removing synthetics. This was to get law enforcement agencies from opposing the bill to becoming neutral. Advocates opposed this move and it did not result in a passable bill.
Peyote has been also removed from the bill’s list of legalized substances. This is in response to concerns expressed by some advocates about over-harvesting vulnerable cacti that have been ceremonially used.
The second major amendment to the bill, which was last year’s, no longer contains a requirement that a study be conducted to examine future reforms. According to the senator, the study language was unnecessary due to the volume of research already done.
The bill stipulates the following psychedelics possession limitations:
DMT-2 grams
Ibogaine–15 grams
Psilocybin-2 grams or up to 4 ounces “a plant or fungi that contains psilocybin”.
Psilocyn-2 grams or up to 4 ounces “a plant or fungi that contains psilocyn.”
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The earlier version was being passed through the legislature. It was then rescinded by a key Assembly committee . This was to allow for the study and elimination of all legalization provisions. Wiener replied by putting the legislation on hold and reserving it for 2023.
Meanwhile, a separate bill from Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R) was introduced last month to legalize psychedelics-assisted therapy for military veterans.
Specifically, it would allow licensed clinical counselors to administer controlled substances–including but not limited to psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, ketamine and ibogaine–to veterans for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury or addiction.
The treatment requires that the patient undergo at least 30 sessions, each lasting at most 12 hours. Each session must be attended by at least two counselors.
Advocates are positive about Wiener’s proposed psychedelics legalization legislation this round. California legislators have had more time to review the proposal than they did when it was first introduced. However, there is significantly more momentum for psychedelics reform as lawmakers from across the country work together to address the issue.
A Minnesota House committee approved a bill to create a task force to examine and advise on possible legalization of psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA.
Texas legislators have recently filed a number of new bills that aim to promote and expand psychedelics research within the state.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill to encourage research into the therapeutic potential of Psilocybin and provide legal protections against prosecution of people with qualifying conditions who have the psychedelic.
This month, a Rhode Island House Committee held a hearing about a bill that would eliminate penalties for possession and use of psilocybin. It would also allow home cultivation of psychedelic mushroom for personal use.
Washington State Senate passed a bill to establish a taskforce to support research into psilocybin, and to develop legal access to the psychedelic.
The three psychedelics research bill passed the Hawaii Senate and House earlier in the month.
Missouri lawmakers approved a GOP-led bill this month that would allow for research into the therapeutic value of certain psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA.
These are just a few of the reforms being considered by legislators in this session.
Based on statistical modeling of policy trends, an analysis published last year in the American Medical Association journal concluded that most states will legalize psychotropic drugs by 2037.
This month’s national poll found that the majority of U.S. citizens support legal access to psychedelics treatment and back federally criminalizing substances such as MDMA and psilocybin.
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Photo elements courtesy carlosemmaskype, Apollo.
The post California Senators approve Psychedelics Legalization Act In Committee was first published on Marijuana Moment.
