Ecstasy, “magic mushrooms” and other psychedelic drugs may soon be recognized as therapeutic in California – one of the latest states, and the largest, to consider allowing their use as medicine.
Legislation by State Senator. scott wiener (d) and assembly members mary waldron (R) Would permit the therapeutic use of psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy, and dimethyltryptamine – a chemical that occurs in mixtures with the psychoactive ayahuasca plant – in state-approved locations under the supervision of licensed individuals. It would also regulate the production, distribution, quality control, and sale of those psychedelics.
The bill aims to reach the government’s desk. Gavin NewsomA Democrat who vetoed sweeping decriminalization legislation last year called psychedelics “an exciting frontier” and called for “regulated treatment guidelines” in the next version.
While most psychedelics are banned under federal law, research has shown They are promising treatments for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Many big cities including DC, like Colorado, have effectively decriminalized their use. Oregon, which had previously decriminalized personal possession of all illegal drugs, including psychedelics, withdrew that policy but created a system to regulate the use of psilocybin mushrooms.
Leanne CavalliniThe 49-year-old, from Pleasanton, California, attended a psychedelic retreat in Mexico this year. He said the experience helped him overcome deep trauma.
“The person I was before was a wound-up tight ball of rubber bands, hiding everything inside and feeling a lot of fear and anxiety,” Cavallini said. “The person I am today is very independent. I live in the present moment. “I don’t live other people’s lives, and I don’t dominate their feelings.”
However, state regulation does not always mean easy access. Oregon allows the consumption of psilocybin mushrooms only under the guidance of state-licensed facilitators in “psilocybin service centers”. Sessions may cost more $2,500, They are not covered by insurance.
Colorado is building regulated “healing centers” where people will be able to take psilocybin mushrooms and certain other psychedelics under the supervision of licensed facilitators.
In California, one obstacle is the state’s $45 billion budget deficit. Its elected leaders are already looking to cut programs. What doesn’t yet exist may be low hanging fruit.
Under pending legislation, anyone hoping to obtain a license to supervise people using psychedelics will need a professional health certificate.
Bills pending in several other states would make access to psychedelics easier or relax existing laws against them.
Some first responder and veterans groups are among the biggest supporters of legalization, and have significant public support. a survey Out of University of California at Berkeley show last year 61 percent Registered voters in the United States support regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics – although about half of those respondents said such drugs were “not good for society.”
ken finnformer president of American Board of Pain Medicinesaid that although the science surrounding psychedelics is promising, the California law is premature “pending more robust and rigorous research to protect public safety.”
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