Nevada activists continue to push for psychedelics legislation. A joint legislative committee heard testimony from experts and the public on the therapeutic potentials of substances such as psilocybin. Law enforcement officials also expressed their concerns about legalization, but there was a notable acknowledgment that reforms including possible rescheduling should be implemented.
On Friday, the Joint Interim Standing Committee on the Judiciary of the legislature discussed the subject. Presentations focused on the “science” and the “impact” of psychedelic assisted therapy. Separately, a county prosecutor from Las Vegas and a Las Vegas detective presented on the “concerns about the legalization of psychoedelics.”
The panel was introduced by Sen. Rochelle (D), who said that the presentation’s purpose was to provide the committee with a brief introduction of “this world psychedelics – just some historical, educational, scientific, and regulatory information.”
Nguyen was the sponsor of legislation that Gov. Joe Lombardo, (R), signed into law last December a state group to study psychedelics as well as develop a plan for regulated access to therapeutic purposes.
The panel has not yet been formed. Advocates with the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines met with the staff of the Governor’s Office last month in order to emphasize the importance of filling appointments to ensure that members will have sufficient time to produce a report and make policy recommendations before the end of the 2024 deadline, as required by law.
Jon Dalton, a co-founder and former Navy SEAL of NCPM, said that he had suffered seven traumatic head injuries which caused post-traumatic anxiety disorder (PTSD) and that the traditional pharmaceuticals he received “decreased the quality of my life and did not work.” On the recommendation of a veteran friend, he reluctantly agreed to receive psilocybin at a clinic located in Mexico.
“The results are profound and transformative,” he said. “The way they healed me involved adaptive neuroplasticity and things happening at the neurological level. I also found myself in an untranslatable state of consciousness which allowed me to examine my memories and core issues, which I discovered as the root cause. “Some of it was bizarre, but worked.”
At Friday’s hearing, retired Lt. Diane Goldstein of the Law Enforcement Action Partnership said that the new working group under Nguyen’s legislation “should consider either decriminalization or reduction penalties for personal amounts in order to remove the stigma which prevents patients from discussing dosage and preparation protocol with their therapists, doctors, and therapists.”
She added that “of the cities and jurisdictions which have decriminalized this naturally occurring fungus, none has seen any significant issues with public health or safety.”
As the state considers mental health treatments, Neurologist Burton Tabaac says that “it is crucial to consider innovative methods that may provide relief to those who are in need.”
He said that psychedelic-assisted therapies had shown promising results when it came to treating mental health conditions such as PTSD and depression. “Our state can be at the forefront in this transformational movement by fostering a compassionate, forward-thinking approach to mental healthcare.”
In a second panel, held at the Friday committee meeting by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), detective Joshua Garber shared his perspective as a police officer. He was joined by Clark County Deputy district attorney John Jones. Both were impressed with the testimony of the advocates, but cautioned that legalization should not be extended beyond medical settings.
Garber stated that “perhaps science-based research, and the regulation of spaces in the right conditions could have positive results.” “However at this time LVMPD opposes any attempts to decriminalize or legalize psilocybin and other hallucinogens.
“Our concern is for the individual as well as the community if someone taking psychedelics out of a medical setting experiences violent outbursts or hallucinations. He said that a person taking psychedelics outside of a medical facility could experience violent outbursts, hallucinations, states of agitation or psychosis. “Frankly more work is needed on the front-end, and legalizing Psilocybin would be premature.”
Jones, the county’s prosecutor, was “impressed” by the presentation. He added, “I will admit that the presentation is similar to the information I have been reading about psilocybin and its health benefits.”
“We do not object to legislation that authorizes clinical studies and research programs in this state pertaining to psilocybin. “I agree with those who say that research shows that we shouldn’t [criminalize] this in this state,” said he. “At this time, we don’t want to see the positive studies that have been presented today be used to justify a complete legalization of Psilocybin. We think it’s a bit too far to go at this stage.
Jones, when asked about his opinion on rescheduling psychedelics he said that despite not being a scientist “considering the research we heard it could be classified incorrectly right now as Schedule 1.”
During the public comment period before the presentations several people shared their personal experiences with psychedelic drugs.
Greg Rea, board member of NCPM, and former member SWAT for the Reno Police Department spoke about his personal experience of psilocybin therapy to overcome alcoholism, which led him to start advocacy work to help first responders who are seeking this novel therapeutic.
He said: “These compounds are miracles of psychologic healing. I’ve seen marriages saved and relationships restored. Suicides were prevented, and addictions were healed.” “We know too much about these substances’ safety and benefits and have an ethical and a moral obligation to use them in a responsible and legal manner.
Rea stated, “I was a war soldier in the drug war.” “Now, I am a healer.”
Ben Strahan is a veteran firefighter who has been fighting wildfires for over 20 years. He shared that he had suicidal thoughts after battling “one of the worst wildfire seasons” in the West. So he sought psilocybin therapy in Mexico, which “alleviated [his] thoughts of suicide, and began my healing process.”
He said: “I support policy reforms around psychedelic medicines, for widely accepted, legalized access, especially for our first responders who need non-addictive and profound treatments for mental health.”
The law Lombardo passed last June also calls for the formation of a 15 member work group within the Department of Health and Human Services of the state. This group will be tasked to study the science of psychedelics, “including but without limitation” psilocybin and psilocin, in the treatment of mental disorders such as PTSD and substance abuse disorder and major depression disorder, and at the end of life.
The group must also examine federal, state, and local laws that govern the therapeutic use of psychoactives. They will then need to develop “actionable plans on how to enable affordable and safe access to therapeutic compounds and entheogens.”
The law stipulates that the Task Force is required to carry out its work in the interim period 2023-2024 before submitting findings and recommendations by the legislator on December 31, 2024.
Nevada is among the states that have established investigatory panels and pilot projects focused on psychedelics in response to growing public interest and a desire to end criminalization of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.
A study group in Indiana’s legislature is encouraging lawmakers to authorise a psilocybin-assisted treatment pilot program in 2024.
In November, the governor of Massachusetts introduced a bill to establish a working group on psychedelics to study and 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.
Marijuana Moment tracks more than 1,000 cannabis and drug policy bills that have been introduced in state legislatures, and Congress. Patreon supporters who pledge at least $25/month gain access to our interactive charts, maps and hearing calendar.
Discover more about our marijuana bills tracker. Become a Patreon supporter to gain access.
—
Lombardo announced recently that , he has selected a new top regulatory for the state’s cannabis industry.
Nevada officials also adopted a proposed amendment to the hiring standards for officers, allowing job candidates previously disqualified due to certain marijuana-related crimes now to be eligible for law enforcement jobs.
A new law went into effect on January 1 that made several changes to the marijuana laws, including doubled the limit of personal possession in the state and expanded eligibility for cannabis business license to people with previous felony convictions.
In May of last year, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to submit a proposed regulatory change to the Governor to protect athletes against being penalized for using or possessing cannabis in compliance with the state law.
The state regulators began in the summer of 2013 to approve the first conditional licenses for marijuana consumption lounges . After a lengthy rulemaking process, the state’s former top regulatory official said that social consumption facilities may represent “the next frontier in the legal cannabis industry”
California Assembly Committee Approves Bill to Create Psychedelics Working Group and Prepare for Legal Therapeutic Access
Photo elements are courtesy carlosemmaskype, and Apollo.
The post Nevada lawmakers hear testimony on therapeutic benefits of psychedelics and law enforcement concerns about legalization first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
