Psychedelinks – January 6, 2023

This week, the New York Times published an article detailing the commencement of the United States’ first regulated psilocybin program in Oregon. The Oregon Health Authority has finally released the final rules for the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act that we’ve all been waiting for and as of January 2, 2023, the public can apply for a license to become a registered facilitator, manufacturer, service center, or laboratory. Emerge attorney Sean Clancy is reflecting on the journey and says, “we have come a long way since May 2019, working with Tom and Sheri Eckert in our conference room to craft a state-legal legislative framework for accessible psilocybin services. Being the first to finally explore a new area is an exciting and uncertain thing, but Oregon has always been a pioneer state and we’re excited to support the responsible exploration of psilocybin services.”

“Certain psychedelics are now officially legal to possess and grow in Colorado under state law, with the governor formally declaring the results of a ballot initiative that voters approved last month. Gov. Jared Polis (D) issued the proclamation on Tuesday, along with seven others for separate ballot measures, about a week earlier than he’s required to do under the state Constitution. While there are still several steps that must be taken to fully implement other aspects of the reform—which also involves creating “healing centers” for supervised psychedelic sessions—possession, cultivation and sharing of certain substances by adults 21 and older is now legal under state law. At the state level, the next step is for the governor to make appointments to a new Natural Medicine Advisory Board under the Department of Regulatory Agencies to assist with implementation. The voter-approved law directs him to make his picks by January 31, 2023.”

“This month a California legislator introduced a bill, S.B. 58, that emulates Colorado's new policy, aiming to legalize the possession, preparation, noncommercial transfer, and transportation of [psilocybin, psilocyn, dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline] by adults 21 or older. Unlike the Oregon and Colorado initiatives, S.B. 58 would not authorize state-licensed businesses where people can obtain and use psychedelics. But it would remove the threat of arrest or prosecution for users of the covered psychedelics, and it would allow noncommercial production and sharing. Compared to the gradual collapse of marijuana prohibition, psychedelic policy seems to be shifting remarkably fast.”

“As the psychedelic revolution continues to spread across the US, New York lawmakers have thrown their hat in the ring and pre-filed a bill aiming to legalize certain natural psychedelics. The new bill, which will be officially introduced this week, would: Legalize adult possession and use of certain natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogens; Grant certain protections for individuals lawfully using such hallucinogens; Remove such hallucinogens from the list of schedule I controlled substances; [and] Make related provisions. The measure would legalize the use of some natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogens, including DMT, ibogaine, mescaline, psilocybin and psilocyn, recategorize them and eliminate their status as prohibited substances.”

“One of the hottest tickets at this year's Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego was a session on psychedelic drugs. About 1,000 brain scientists squeezed into an auditorium at the San Diego Convention Center for the symposium, called Psychedelics and Neural Plasticity. Brain plasticity may explain why a single dose of a psychedelic drug can have a long-lasting impact on disorders like anxiety, depression and PTSD. The fact that psychedelics were featured at the world's largest meeting of brain scientists suggests the drugs are poised to enter the scientific mainstream.”