The Minnesota House passed an omnibus bill on health that includes provisions for the creation of a psychedelics Task Force to prepare Minnesota for possible legalization.
In the House, the large-scale Senate bill was amended earlier this month by Rep. Andy Smith. The House Ways & Means Committee revised it further this week, before the entire chamber voted 69-58 on Wednesday.
Before a final version can be sent to Governor’s Desk, the proposal will likely move to a bipartisan conference committee where members will reconcile the differences between the House-Senate proposals – including the psychedelics provision that was not previously considered by the Senate.
Minnesota legislators are working to pass a marijuana legalization law. The House Version was approved by the House on the floor following 15 committees, on Tuesday. And the Senate version passed the final panel, on Wednesday. It will now be voted on in the Senate.
The psychedelics bill that is advancing in the broader health legislation will establish a Psychedelics Medicine Task Force, which would advise lawmakers on the “legal, medical, policy, and legal issues associated with legalizing psychedelic medicine within the state.”
The body will need to “review existing studies in the scientific literature regarding the therapeutic efficacy psychedelic medicines in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic disorder. It may also include any other medical or mental conditions that a psychedelic medication could be an effective treatment for.”
The plan would address “statutory changes required for the legalization psychedelic medicines” as well as “state and local regulations of psychedelic drugs.”
was introduced as a separate bill. The legislation would have required that the task force examine mescaline (and other drugs such as bufotenine), DMT (5-MeO-DMT), 2C-B ibogaine salvinorin-A and ketamine. The bill was changed in committee so that it only focused on psilocybin MDMA and LSD.
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The bill was a subject of back and forth over the provisions relating to task force nominations.
In its standalone form, the document stated that each of the House majority leaders and Senate majority leaders would appoint 2 members to the committee. The amendment was adopted by an earlier committee to allow the minority leaders in both chambers to each have a nomination, which would strengthen its bipartisan appeal. However, it was not included when the measure was attached to the original omnibus legislation. The language was revised during a House Ways & Means Committee meeting last week, before it passed on the floor.
In its current form, the proposal calls for the funding of the task force to be $338,000 during fiscal year 2024 and 171,000 during fiscal year 2025.
The 23-member taskforce would consist of officials, experts and representatives from various fields, such as the Governor or his designee; the Health Commissioner, the State Attorney General or his designee; two tribal representatives and people with experience in substance abuse treatment. Other members could include experts on public health policy, veterans with mental illnesses, and others.
The task force is required to submit two reports detailing its findings on the legalization and use of psychedelic medicines in the state. This includes the comprehensive plan that was developed under subdivision. The first report is due by February 1, 2020, while the second must be received by January 1, 2025.
Cannabis reformers are waiting for the Senate to pass a final marijuana legalization measure. The Senate’s legalization bill differs from the House’s version in several ways. If the Senate approves the measure, the two bills will be reconciled before they are sent to the Governor.
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Photo by Dick Culbert.
The article Minnesota House Votes to Create Psychedelics task Force as Part of Omnibus Health Bill first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
