Psychedelics Update: Task Forces In Three States, Decrim No-Go, Arizona Psilocybin Centers, Utah And More
State-level psychedelics policy reform keeps moving forward throughout the U.S. Below is a recap of the moves that took place in the first two weeks of March (see the previous recap.)
Also Read: Indiana Governor Signs Health Bill Including State Funds For Psilocybin Research
Maryland: On March 15, the Senate’s Finance Committee unanimously approved SB 1009. The bill would create a psychedelics task force to study and make recommendations toward a potential regulatory framework that ensures “broad, equitable and affordable access” to psychedelic substances, starting with psilocybin, psilocin, DMT and mescaline (non-peyote derived) and potentially broadening the list.
Committee legislators replaced the original language from Sen. Brian Feldman (D) with an amended companion House bill HB 548, which cleared the full House of Delegates, and then advanced it on a voice vote, Marijuana Moment reported.
The new “Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances” would be supervised by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Members would have to examine and make recommendations on issues like permitting requirements -including those regarding education and safety – access to treatment and regulated support and production of natural psychedelic substances.
The task force would also have to look into expunging prior convictions for psychedelics and releasing people incarcerated for such offenses, and make recommendations on potential civil penalties for “nonviolent infractions involving the planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, or possessing of or other engagement with natural psychedelic substances.”
Counterpart bill HB 548 was approved, with amendments (details by Marijuana Moment), by the full House on third and final reading in a 136-1 vote on March 13 and sent to the Senate.
The crossover deadline in the legislature is Monday, March 18, so senators will need to move quickly if they want the chamber’s measure to pass alongside the House measure.
Alaska: The House State Affairs committee took testimony on HB 228, a proposal creating a Mental Health and Psychedelic Medicine Task Force in advance to federal rescheduling of these substances on March 14, reported Marijuana Moment.
The task force would study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jennie Armstrong (D) said the new body “will not consider or take a position on the medicalization, decriminalization or legalization of psychedelic medicines.”
Rather, it would “create a set of policy recommendations for the next legislature [the 34th] to consider in advance of the almost 99.9 percent certain medicalization of certain psychedelic …