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Vermont\u2019s House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group to make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances like psilocybin and MDMA.<\/p>\n
House lawmakers passed the measure, S.114, on a voice vote Wednesday, a day after adopting an amendment discussed in an earlier committee hearing. That change directs the Vermont Psychological Association to collaborate with the state Department of Health to help staff and provide technical assistance to the working group.<\/p>\n
The Senate, for its part, passed an earlier version of the legislation in March<\/a>, but there have been a number of changes since the legislation landed in the House\u2014so the measure will require a concurrence vote in the originating body before it can head to the governor\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n In its current form, the proposal would not itself change the legal status of any substances. Rather, the eight-person task force would \u201creview the latest research and evidence of the public health benefits and risks of clinical psychedelic assisted treatments\u201d and \u201cexamine the laws and programs of other states that have authorized the use of psychedelics by health care providers in a therapeutic setting,\u201d according to the latest version of the measure.<\/p>\n As originally introduced, the measure from Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick (D) would have also legalized use and possession of psilocybin<\/a>. Lawmakers on the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, however, deleted that section to focus instead on the therapeutic working group.<\/p>\n There was little floor discussion in the House ahead of Wednesday\u2019s vote. One member, however\u2014Rep. Tristan Roberts (D)\u2014spoke to how psychedelic-assisted therapy helped him address childhood trauma that caused him night terrors.<\/p>\n \u201cI now recognize that my night terrors were my body\u2019s way of asking me to face my fears,\u201d he said. \u201cPsychedelic-assisted therapy gave me the tools to to do that that I hadn\u2019t found in 40 years of looking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI sleep much better now. Depression and anxiety are more often symptoms that move through me; they are not me,\u201d he continued. \u201cI felt for the first time in memory that I could appreciate and add to the beauty in life. Psychedelic medicine helped me uncover again my true nature.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week the measure advanced out of committee with a striking amendment from Rep. Anne Donahue (R).<\/p>\n The committee\u2019s changes removed task force members representing the Psychedelic Society of Vermont and the Brattleboro Retreat, a psychiatric and addiction hospital. It added representatives from the state Department of Mental Health and the nonprofit Vermont Medical Society.<\/p>\n The amendment also deleted a provision that would have directed the working group to evaluate the criminalization of psychedelics in Vermont. It also removed struck a line that said the task force would \u201cprovide potential timelines for universal and equitable access to psychedelic-assisted treatments.\u201d<\/p>\n Another change removed an earlier provision directing the task force to provide an opportunity \u201cfor individuals with lived experience to provide testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n Donahue said her own life experiences with mental health care have left her skeptical of assurances from psychedelic-assisted therapy advocates.<\/p>\n \u201cI have lived the life of somebody who has been told, \u2018Oh, this is safe, this is safe, this is safe.\u2019 You know, \u2018We in psychiatry and mental health know what we\u2019re doing is safe. This is safe, this is safe, this is safe,\u2019 and having my life practically destroyed,\u201d she told colleagues at the hearing. \u201cI see the new ads on TV about, \u2018Oh, your distracted mother, calm her down with this drug!\u2019 That\u2019s a drug that\u2019s prohibited in nursing homes, because it\u2019s used to keep their behaviors in line. And it causes early, premature death. But, you know, give it to mom because she needs to be calmed down!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the FDA is really actively involved in working on it,\u201d she continued, \u201cand I think that [Vermont should be] following their lead rather than saying, you know, we need to jump the gun potentially.\u201d<\/p>\n Both MDMA and psilocybin have been granted breakthrough therapy status by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and\u00a0recent clinical trials have MDMA on pace for possible FDA approval later this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n House passage of the psychedelics working group bill comes on the heels of the House\u2019s approval earlier this week of H.72, which would legalize and fund a Burlington facility where people could use currently prohibited substances<\/a> in a medically supervised environment. But Gov. Phil Scott (R), who vetoed an 2022 measure that would have created a task force to study overdose prevention centers, has indicated he\u2019s not on board with the plan.<\/p>\n If enacted, the legislation would create an overdose prevention center (OPC) Burlington, with $1.1 million in funding plus another $300,000 to study the study the impact of the pilot project. The OPC would need to have on-site professionals with training in CPR, overdose interventions, first aid and wound care, as well as medical assessments to determine the need for further emergency care.<\/p>\n Vermont would join\u00a0Rhode Island<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Minnesota<\/a>\u00a0in authorizing the facilities.<\/p>\n Lawmakers in a growing number of states have considered psychedelics legislation this session, with many focusing on psilocybin reform and increased research.<\/p>\n This week in Alaska, for example, a Senate panel advanced a House-passed measure that would create a state task force to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy<\/a>\u00a0in the event of federal approval of substances such as MDMA and psilocybin<\/p>\n \u2014 In Maryland, the Senate and House of Delegates have both passed legislation to\u00a0create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying possible regulatory frameworks\u00a0for therapeutic access<\/a>\u00a0to substances such as psilocybin, mescaline and DMT, sending the proposal to Gov Wes Moore (D). It would be charged specifically with ensuring \u201cbroad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n Indiana\u2019s governor recently signed a bill that includes\u00a0provisions to fund clinical research trials into psilocybin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Utah\u2019s governor, meanwhile, allowed a bill to\u00a0authorize a pilot program for hospitals to administer psilocybin and MDMA<\/a>\u00a0as an alternative treatment option to become law without his signature.<\/p>\n Maine lawmakers sent the governor legislation to establish a commission tasked with studying and\u00a0making recommendations on regulating access to psychedelic services<\/a>.<\/p>\n An Arizona House panel also approved a Senate-passed bill to\u00a0legalize psilocybin service centers where people could receive the psychedelic<\/a>\u00a0in a medically supervised setting.<\/p>\n A Connecticut joint legislative panel approved a bill to\u00a0decriminalize possession of psilocybin<\/a>.<\/p>\n A\u00a0bipartisan bill to legalize psychedelic service centers in California<\/a>\u00a0has cleared two Senate committees.<\/p>\n The governor of New Mexico has endorsed a newly enacted resolution\u00a0requesting that state officials research the therapeutic potential of psilocybin<\/a>\u00a0and explore the creation of a regulatory framework to provide access to the psychedelic.<\/p>\n An Illinois committee also recently held a hearing to discuss\u00a0a bill to legalize psilocybin and allow regulated access at service centers<\/a>\u00a0in the state\u00a0where adults could use the psychedelic in a supervised setting\u2014with plans to expand the program to include mescaline, ibogaine and DMT.<\/p>\n Lawmakers in Hawaii also considered a bill that would\u00a0provide some legal protections to patients engaging in psilocybin-assisted therapy<\/a>\u00a0with a medical professional\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n New York lawmakers said that a bill to legalize psilocybin-assisted therapy in that state\u00a0has a \u201creal chance\u201d of passing this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n A Nevada joint legislative committee held a hearing with\u00a0expert and public testimony on the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin<\/a>\u00a0in January. Law enforcement representatives also shared their concerns around legalization\u2014but there was notable acknowledgement that some reforms should be enacted, including possible rescheduling.<\/p>\n The governor of Massachusetts also recently\u00a0promoted the testimony of activists who spoke in favor of her veterans-focused bill<\/a>\u00a0that would, in part, create a psychedelics work group to\u00a0study the therapeutic potential of substances such as psilocybin<\/a>. Separately, an\u00a0initiative that would legalize psychedelics\u00a0may appear on the November ballot<\/a>\u00a0if lawmakers decline to independently enact it first.<\/p>\n Currently, there are no psychedelic drugs that are federally approved to prescribe as medicine. But that could soon change, as FDA recently agreed to\u00a0review a new drug application for MDMA-assisted therapy<\/a>\u00a0on an expedited basis.<\/p>\n At the start of this year, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) separately issued a request for applications to conduct in-depth research on\u00a0the use of psychedelics to treat PTSD and depression<\/a>.<\/p>\n In October, the agency also launched a new podcast about the future of veteran health care, and\u00a0the first episode of the series focuses on the healing potential of psychedelics<\/a>.<\/p>\n FDA also recently joined scientists at a public meeting on\u00a0next steps for conducting research to develop psychedelic medicines<\/a>. That came months after\u00a0the agency issued historic draft guidance on psychedelics studies<\/a>, providing scientists with a framework to carry out research that could lead to the development of novel medicines.<\/p>\n Meanwhile in Congress last week, a House panel approved GOP-led bill that would instruct VA to notify Congress if any psychedelics are added to its formulary\u00a0of covered prescription drugs<\/a>.<\/p>\n White House Declines To Say Whether Biden Supports Marijuana Rescheduling Proposal From DOJ<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n The post Vermont Lawmakers Approve Psychedelic Therapy Task Force Bill, Putting It One Step Away From Governor\u2019s Desk<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Vermont\u2019s House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group to make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances like psilocybin and MDMA. House lawmakers passed the measure, S.114, on a voice vote Wednesday, a day after adoptingContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":75149,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75148"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=75148"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75148\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75150,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75148\/revisions\/75150"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nRead More: Vermont Lawmakers Approve Psychedelic Therapy Task Force Bill, Putting It One Step Away From Governor\u2019s Desk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"