A lobbying effort led in part by religious groups has state lawmakers considering two different measures that would legalize psilocybin mushrooms.

The “Regulated Therapeutic Access to Psychedelics Act” has been drafted in a way that’s meant to be responsive to concerns voiced by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year when he vetoed a broader proposal that included provisions to legalize low-level possession of substances such as psilocybin.

Researchers found that only 16% of all participants reported an overall negative response. But a significant portion of these negative experiences (31%) were reported by people with a history of personality disorders.

VA came out against the psychedelics bill that is getting a vote, arguing that it’s “unnecessary.”

It’s a disappointing turn of events for those pushing for urgent access to psychedelic medicines and treatments, though Maine lawmakers in favor of psychedelic reform still recognized that the bill “represents progress.”

Psychedelic Alpha‘s Josh Hardman speaks with people close to the study itself as well as MindMed representatives including CEO Robert Barrow to look at the (unpublished) protocol employed in the Phase 2b study.

Money for the program would come from state opioid settlement funds, the result of multiple lawsuits filed against the opioid industry and peripheral businesses.

Individuals who consumed the psychedelic experienced a significant increase in their appreciation for aesthetic experiences, not just momentarily but extending up to a month post-consumption, according to new research.

Psychedelic Alpha‘s Josh Hardman speaks with the chief sponsor of Utah SB 266, which became law last month.

The agency will convene the meeting on June 10, at the request of three interested parties, including Panacea Plant Sciences, which had filed a motion contesting the proposed scheduling action last year.

Last week the VA Portland Health Care System opened the Social Neuroscience & Psychotherapy Lab, known as the SNaP Lab, focused on psychedelic therapy and clinical trials.

If lawmakers decide not to legalize psychedelics by May 1, activists would then have until July 3 to submit at least 12,429 additional valid signatures to put the proposal before voters on the November ballot.

On March 21, Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) announced that while he’s not signing a psychedelic bill, he’s not vetoing it either. He’s letting it take effect without a signature, on May 1.

Manic symptoms, meanwhile, were linked to psychedelic use, but that appeared to be due to genetic predisposition.

The legislation would establish a “Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances” that would be overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration.

Four years ago, the state decriminalized all drugs. Now it’s trying to course-correct — and might make a mistake in the process.

The new proposal that cleared the legislature this month provides for that regulated access at two types of health care systems in the state. Psychedelics could be administered by a privately owned, non-profit health care system with at least 15 licensed hospitals or within medical programs operated by institutions of higher education.

The training, developed by the MAPS, aims to “enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of first responders to quickly recognize and effectively respond to emotional and behavioral crisis incidents involving psilocybin and other psychedelics.”

Psychedelic medicine investigators must contend with strict guidelines and administrative burdens, which can slow research efforts and subsequent approvals that could improve wide-spread access and economic opportunities.

In the absence of tailored treatment options, perhaps it’s no surprise that a growing interest in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) for eating disorders is slowly gaining traction.