PsychedeLinks is a curated selection of top news stories impacting business, research, and culture in the psychedelics ecosystem, crafted by Emerge Law Group’s groundbreaking Psychedelics Group.
Emerge’s Hot Take
This week in psychedelinks: Oregon psilocybin center wins appeal
An Oregon appeals board ruled late last month in favor of Juniper Preserve Resort, a psilocybin service center that was denied a land use permit by Deschutes County. The county rejected the permit, arguing that transporting psilocybin on federally managed roads was illegal due to federal drug laws. Emerge attorneys Alex Berger and Corinne Celko filed an appeal on behalf of Juniper, arguing that federal illegality was not a valid reason for denial under the county code, and the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals agreed, ordering the county to approve the permit. This ruling marks a huge win for licensees in the psilocybin space, establishing the precedent that counties cannot block psilocybin businesses based on federal legality.
“I think this result represents a hopeful step forward for a new and important wellness industry that has been struggling to get off the ground,” says Emerge shareholder and land use expert Alex Berger. “State and local land use laws and opt-outs make it difficult, particularly for service centers, to locate in more rural, nature-based areas, like the Juniper Preserve Resort, where clients can most benefit from psilocybin services. It certainly doesn’t help when a county that specifically allows service centers in its destination resort zone invokes federal law to deny a service center land use application.
“So this decision is important in a couple of ways: It paves the way for perhaps the first service center in a wellness resort setting, and hopefully for others to follow and it confirms that applying federal law to deny a local land use application, as Deschutes County did, constitutes an impermissibly “unreasonable” application of a local jurisdiction’s time, place, manner restrictions. Federal prohibition should not be used as a pretext to disallow an activity state and local voters specifically legalized, despite that federal prohibition.”
Other Noteworthy News
MARIJUANA MOMENT – Arizona lawmakers have approved two bills focused on psychedelic therapy. The Senate passed a bill to create an advisory board to study psilocybin, while the House approved funding for clinical trials on ibogaine for neurological diseases. The psilocybin bill, sponsored by Sen. T.J. Shope, originally included provisions for licensed therapy centers but was amended to focus solely on research after a similar bill was vetoed last year by Gov. Katie Hobbs. The advisory board will assess psilocybin’s safety, efficacy, and legal landscape, with a report due annually. Meanwhile, Rep. Justin Wilmeth’s ibogaine bill will move to the Senate for approval, with former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema pledging to raise $5 million in private funding if it passes.
Unveiling the mystical: How scholars are advancing psychedelics study
HARVARD CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WORLD RELIGIONS – The Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard is leading efforts to integrate psychedelic research into mainstream scholarship, focusing on their medical, spiritual, and cultural significance. The Center boasts a vast psychedelics collection, including 50,000 items from the 1960’s and 70’s, reflecting the fields historical journey from criminalization to renewed scientific interest. Through the Harvard Study of Psychedelics in Society and Culture, funded by a $16 million grant, interdisciplinary researchers examine psychedelics’ ethical, legal, and therapeutic implications. At the third annual Psychedelic Intersections conference, global scholars, Indigenous leaders, and policymakers explored topics such as psychedelic chaplaincy, Indigenous plant medicine traditions, and psychedelic aesthetics. Speakers, including Mazatec community member Elías García Méndez and historian Erika Dyck, emphasized the importance of collaboration with Indigenous knowledge keepers in psychedelic research.
Denver approves magic mushroom licensing rules, expects slow turnout
WESTWORD – On March 3, Denver City Council approved a licensing framework for psilocybin businesses, including growers, facilitators, and product manufacturers, aligning mostly with Colorado’s state regulations. Healing centers and facilitators will require local licensing, while growers and manufacturers licensed by the state will not. Psilocybin businesses must be at least 1,000 feet from schools, and advertising is restricted to prevent targeting children or misappropriating Indigenous cultures. Clients will be required to consume psilocybin onsite with a licensed facilitator. Officials expect an initially slow industry rollout, with only 26 businesses applying statewide since December. The new regulations also repeal Denver’s 2019 ordinance that decriminalized psilocybin possession but do not affect personal use, possession, or cultivation allowed by state law.
Hawaiian Senate approves bill to support clinical research on psychedelic-assisted therapies
MARIJUANA MOMENT – Hawaii’s Senate approved a proposal last Friday (Feb. 28) to establish a special fund supporting clinical research into psychedelic-assisted treatments using substances like psilocybin and MDMA. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Chris Lee, SB 1042, proposes establishing a state “mental health emerging therapies special fund” that would help subsidize clinical trials, create public-private research partnerships, and potentially develop state programs for “compassionate use” of emerging therapies for conditions such as PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia. The proposal does not allocate initial funding but allows for money from legislative appropriations, donations, or grants. It has strong support from veterans’ organizations and mental health advocates who hope that the bill will position Hawaii as a leader in advancing psychedelic research and mental health care.
Medical Psilocybin Act would create legal access to treatment
KOB4 NEW MEXICO – New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Act was introduced this year to create legal access to psilocybin for therapeutic use, following previous unsuccessful legislative efforts. Senate Bill 219, a bipartisan measure, aims to establish a controlled program for treating PTSD, substance abuse, and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The proposed program involves limited dosing sessions with extensive preparation and integration, overseen by trained staff. The bill requests $4 million in funding, with plans to supplement costs through donations and state allocations. However, concerns have been raised about financial sustainability and access for patients using federal programs like the VA. Conversely, advocates supporting the initiative emphasize its potential to address mental health crises while ensuring proper oversight and regulation. If passed, the program would take two years to develop before implementation.
LISTEN – New York Times: “How a leftist activist group helped torpedo a psychedelic therapy”
“The fallout from the F.D.A.’s rejection of MDMA-assisted treatment for PTSD worries researchers and experts who fear other psychedelic drugs in the pipeline could be jeopardized.”
WATCH – 60 Minutes: “Sunday on 60 Minutes: A psychedelic journey”
“Thousands of veterans are traveling overseas seeking relief at psychedelic retreats. [In this segment] Anderson Cooper follows nine veterans on a psychedelic journey to the west coast of Mexico.”
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