Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a bill that promotes research into the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin and provides legal protections against prosecution of people who have the psychedelic.
Rep. Daniel Pae (R), passed the legislation in a 66-32 vote. This was about a month since the measure had been advanced through the committee. The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Members adopted an amendment to strike title before the bill was passed. This is a common legislative mechanism. It removes the description at top of the bill. Technically, it makes it incompatible with the state Constitution, and requires lawmakers to re-examine it. This is a way to advance the legislation and recognize that additional changes may be needed before it can be enacted.
The House committee revised the proposal to establish a pilot program, which would allow universities and research facilities to contract with Oklahoma institutions higher education to conduct studies on psilocybin.
Researchers should investigate the possibility of using psychedelics to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic head injury, early-stage dementia and palliative care.
The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill Magic Mushrooms to study Psilocybin and its effects on conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. pic.twitter.com/ShjMNiQek4
— Rep. Mickey Dollens (@MickeyDollens) March 9, 2023
The bill as it was introduced was already less restrictive than the version Pae sponsored last session. It also omitted provisions that would allow for broad decriminalization of the substances.
However, the bill does not now combine research with decriminalization. People who are facing prosecution for psilocybin possession will be allowed to affirmatively defend themselves if they can show “clear and convincing evidence” that their medical condition falls within the scope of the study subjects such as chronic pain or PTSD.
The bill states that “This subsection should not be understood as the decriminalization or psilocyn.”
Last month, the committee approved a replacement to remove the references to “clinical trial” that institutions were expected to conduct and instead describe the research mandate within the context of a pilot programme.
Although researchers could still study psilocybin in the same way as before, it does not seem likely that the modified language would have any significant practical impact.
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The legislation would require researchers to examine the “therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin under the listed conditions,” review the scientific literature, and also study the “science of cultivation and synthesis, extraction and processing of psilocybin, psilocyn, as well as the fungi and yeasts and other naturally occurring sources organisms of these molecules.”
Prosecution would not be possible for researchers and those who participated in the pilot program on psychedelics.
It continues, “Researching entities must submit a written report (to the President Pro Tempore of Oklahoma State Senate or the Speaker of Oklahoma House of Representatives) containing the results of studies under this section and any recommendations regarding legislative or other actions no later than December 1, 2026.”
Last session , the legislation sponsored by Pae passed the House. was then sent to a Senate committee. It was modified to exclude decriminalization but did not make it through the full chamber.
Rep. Logan Phillips (R- ) separately filed a psychedelic researcher measure without criminalization last session. However, it was not enacted.
This psychedelics reform development comes amid a wave of similar legislative efforts that address policy surrounding entheogenic substances within legislatures throughout the country.
Oklahoma voters defeated a marijuana legalization initiative this week. However, the attorney general of the state said that he believes it’s time for the state to consider expunging any prior cannabis convictions.
Seven in Ten Florida Voters Support Marijuana Legalization. Poll Findings As Campaign Petitions for 2024 Ballot Initiative
Photo courtesy Wikimedia/Mushroom Observer.
The post Oklahoma House Approves Psilocybin Bill Protecting Patients from Prosecution and Promoting Research was first published on Marijuana Moment.
