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Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) this week signed a bill into law to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group<\/a> that will make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances such as psilocybin and MDMA. The governor vetoed separate legislation, however, that would have established a safe drug consumption facility in Burlington<\/a> as part of a harm-reduction pilot program.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Scott signed S.114, the psychedelics working group bill. The new law does not itself change the legal status psychedelics. Rather, it creates an eight-person task force to \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<\/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 A separate bill, H.72, would have legalized and funded a facility in Burlington where people could use drugs in a medically supervised environment and also have substances checked for adulterants. The pilot project would have received $1.1 million in money from the state\u2019s opioid settlement fund and another $300,000 to study the site\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n Scott shot down that proposal on Thursday, however.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile these sites are well-intentioned, this costly experiment will divert financial resources from proven prevention, treatment and recovery strategies, as well as harm reduction initiatives that facilitate entry into treatment rather than continued use,\u201d the governor wrote in a veto message<\/a>. \u201cWhile it may consolidate the widespread drug use in Burlington into a smaller area within the city, it will come at the expense of the treatment and recovery needs of other communities, for whom such a model will not work.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott said the state\u2019s existing overdose prevention strategies\u2014he highlighted \u201cincluding widespread Narcan distribution, fentanyl testing strips, needle exchanges, enhanced prevention, treatment and recovery through local coalitions\u201d\u2014are already \u201cresulting in some positive trends in relation to overdose deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPaired with increased enforcement,\u201d he continued, \u201cand the ability to invest Opioid Settlement funds in additional strategies like drug testing, naloxone vending machines, contingency management and expanded outreach, I\u2019m hopeful we will continue to see fewer and fewer overdose deaths.\u201d<\/p>\n Scott had previously signaled that he intended to reject the bill<\/a>, explaining that he was \u201cphilosophically and pragmatically opposed\u201d to the change despite support from city leaders in Burlington.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may save lives, but how much are we going to lose because we didn\u2019t get them into treatment or keep them from using in the first place with prevention?\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n He also signaled the move at a press conference earlier this week.<\/p>\n Senate President Pro Tem Phil Baruth (D) called Scott\u2019s veto \u201ca loss of nerve with regard to harm reduction, one final obstacle for all of us who are committed to exploring every possible path to accelerate the end of the opioid crisis,\u201d according to Vermont Public<\/a>.<\/p>\n Whether there\u2019s the required two-thirds majority in the legislature to overcome Scott\u2019s veto of the bill<\/a> isn\u2019t immediately clear. But House Speaker Jill Krowinski (D), who represents Burlington, signaled the House may try vote to override it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand this is a new strategy to prevent overdose deaths and get people into treatment in Vermont, which is why it is a pilot project with one center,\u201d she told the site VTDigger<\/a>. \u201cThe governor\u2019s veto of this bill is a drastic response to a thoughtful and measured approach to saving lives.\u201d<\/p>\n Sponsored by Rep. Taylor Small (P\/D) and 28 House colleagues, the bill was another attempt by lawmakers to allow overdose prevention centers following Scott\u2019s veto of a 2022 measure that would have established a task force to create a plan to open the sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to endorsements from the current and former mayors of Burlington itself, this year\u2019s proposal has support from advocacy groups including the Drug Policy Alliance, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, National Harm Reduction Coalition, the American Diabetes Association, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Johnson Health Center, Broken No More, Recovery Vermont and the Vermont Association for Mental Health Addiction and Recovery.<\/p>\n Though Rhode Island and Minnesota have state laws on the books allowing safe drug consumption sites, New York City became the first U.S. jurisdiction to\u00a0open locally sanctioned harm reduction centers<\/a>\u00a0in November 2021, and officials have reported positive results saving lives.<\/p>\n An early study published by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that the\u00a0facilities had decreased the risk of overdose<\/a>, steered people away from using drugs in public and provided other ancillary health services to people who use illicit substances. And separate research published by AMA late last year found that the centers\u00a0have not led to increased crime despite a significant decrease in arrests<\/a>.<\/p>\n The psychedelic working group bill<\/a>, meanwhile, initially began as a measure to legalize the 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 \u2014 Lawmakers in a growing number of states have considered psychedelics legislation this session, with many focusing on psilocybin reform and increased research.<\/p>\n For example, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed legislation this month to create a psychedelics task force responsible for studying possible regulatory frameworks\u00a0for therapeutic access<\/a> to substances such as psilocybin, mescaline and DMT. It would be charged specifically with ensuring \u201cbroad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n This month in Alaska lawmakers sent the governor a bill to 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 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 this month, 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 New Hampshire Marijuana Legalization Bill Headed To Conference Committee After House Rejects Senate Amendments<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Image courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Vermont Governor Signs Bill To Create Psychedelics Work Group, But Vetoes Drug Overdose Prevention Site Measure<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) this week signed a bill into law to create a psychedelic-assisted therapy working group that will make recommendations on whether and how the state should regulate legal access to substances such as psilocybin and MDMA. The governor vetoed separate legislation, however, that would have establishedContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":75809,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75808"}],"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=75808"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75810,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/75808\/revisions\/75810"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/75809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=75808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=75808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=75808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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\nRead More: Vermont Governor Signs Bill To Create Psychedelics Work Group, But Vetoes Drug Overdose Prevention Site Measure<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"