Hawaii’s psychedelic task force, which was established recently under the Governor’s Office, held its first official meeting. Experts are working to prepare Hawaii for regulated access to novel treatments like MDMA and psilocybin.
The Office of Wellness and Resilience announced that the Breakthrough Therapy Task Force, which is composed of legislators, health professionals and advocates for drug policy reform, met on Tuesday in order to “assist state officials to expand therapeutic access” to the psychedelics awaiting FDA approval.
In recent sessions, legislators have introduced bills and resolutions encouraging investigations into psychedelic therapies. However, the legislation has not been enacted. The Office of Wellness and Resilience announced last week that the task force would be established anyway. They plan to hold listening sessions and create a report that will include findings and recommendations.
In a press statement, Sean Munnelly , a task force member who is also employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated that “we are on the brink of an exciting new movement in health and consciousness.” The FDA’s designation of MDMA as a breakthrough therapy marks a potential paradigm-shifting moment. It is important to form a multidisciplinary team of experts to ensure that this can be done safely. These individuals will create guidelines for safe, responsible practices in Hawaii.”
The 11-member Task Force will also study the experiences of Oregon, Colorado and other states that have enacted legislation creating regulatory pathways for certain psychoactive substances.
Hawaii’s office stated that laws and policies in these states are “rooted in a growing body of evidence that is establishing psychedelics to be the most promising frontier in psychiatric treatment since the advent selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)”.
The group will also consider issues such as supply and accessibility of psychedelics and affordability, licensing guides, integration coaches, and administrative resources.
The office stated that the Breakthrough Therapy Task Force is in line with Hawai’i’s focus on wellness, resilience, and mental health, and the state’s commitment to exploring innovative and effective approaches to mental treatment. By embracing breakthrough therapies and creating an regulated psychedelic treatment program, Hawai’i hopes to offer its residents comprehensive, compassionate, and effective therapeutic options.
Sens. The task force includes Chris Lee (D), Joy San Buenaventura, and others. The senators have championed reform legislation for marijuana and psychedelics that has progressed through the Senate, but was not ultimately enacted.
The full list of members of the psychedelics Task Force is available here:
- Lorrin Kim Department of Health
- Tia L. R. Hartsock Office of Wellness and Resilience
- Sen. Joy San Buenaventura
- Sen. Chris Lee
- Melanie Martin, Department of Public Safety
- Dr. Sean Munnelly, VA
- Oriana Filiaci is Hawai’i Pacific Health
- Ashley Lukens Clarity Project
- Kristina Rodrguez, Krysalis Lifestyle Medicine
- Heather Lusk Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center
- Nikos Leverenz is the Drug Policy Forum of Hawai’i and Hawai’i Health and Harm Reduction Center.
Hawaii Department of Health testified before a committee in March that the Department of Health felt it would make sense to legalize psilocybin and MDMA, given that FDA approval was likely imminent.
The DOH official stated that by rescheduling, medical professionals would be able to “more freely discuss their experiences” and “the market would respond”.
A bill passed by the Hawaii Senate to legalize pot has been stuck in the House of Representatives for the entire year. However, advocates are now focusing on 2024 and hope to implement the reform during the second half the two-year legislative sessions.
In April, the state attorney general announced that her office would no longer be opposed to cannabis legalization. Instead, they will work with legislators and stakeholders in order to help push forward reform next year.
Former Democratic Governor Dave Ige has been a major obstacle for advocates, partly because he refused to legalize marijuana, citing his reluctance to do so, as he did not want it to conflict with federal law. Hawaii’s medical marijuana program allows for the cultivation and sale of cannabis, in violation of federal law.
Now that Gov. Josh Green (D), who was sworn in as governor, has given activists a new sense of confidence. He announced in November that he would sign a bill legalizing cannabis for adults. He has already come up with ideas on how to use the tax revenue generated by marijuana sales.
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Photo by Dick Culbert.
The first meeting of the Hawaii Psychedelics task force was held as experts planned for legalization .
