Nevada lawmakers have approved a joint motion calling for Congress to reschedule some psychedelics and streamline research. They also want protections provided for those who are using these substances according to state law.
The Senate approved the final version of the bill last Thursday, after the House and Senate both amended the original proposal.
SJR 10 from Sen. Rochelle (D) Nguyen has been officially enacted. It will now be sent to President Donald Trump and Vice President JDVance.
The resolution refers to research that shows the potential therapeutic benefit of psychedelics for treating serious mental disorders. It also calls for federal officials to “reschedule DMT, ibogaine mescaline MDMA and other psychedelics to better reflect the compounds’ therapeutic value, their low abuse potential and safety when used under medical supervision.”
The article also highlights federal developments in the area, such as the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) classification of some psychedelics to be “breakthrough therapy” and the research being conducted by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs of the United States (VA) on these substances.
The measure urges Congress to increase funding for further research, establish a “streamlined process for approving and conducting research with psychedelic compounds,” and reschedule psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, mescaline and MDMA under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
The bill also demands that states enter into research partnerships with Attorney Generals under the Controlled Substances Act in order to examine the health effects of state-run programs.
James Ohrenschall, a Democratic Senator from the Senate said that the amendment passed by the Assembly is now approved by the Senate. “It specifies legal protections for those who comply with local and state laws regarding the use of psychedelic substances by adults under supervision,” he stated.
Under the change, submitted by Nguyen, the proposal now urges congress to protect “individuals and entities complying with state and local law concerning the Watched Adult use of psychedelic substances.”
This language is in the original measure, however, an earlier amendement had removed “supervised” (enforced) from the text.
The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections approved the amendment by voice vote in a last-month work session.
Nguyen, on the Senate floor, said that the proposal was “based upon the assertion that research and clinical trials have shown promising results in treating disorders like traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic disorder, depression and other mental conditions.”
“The measure notes the low abuse potential for classic psychedelics and highlights their safety in therapeutic session settings,” she said, adding that “SJR 10 expresses Nevada’s continued support for expanded research opportunities…and urges Congress and the appropriate federal agencies to increase related funding” for psychedelic medicines.
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A committee adopted Nguyen’s amendments, which clarified certain stats and expanded the federal protections language to cover local protections.
In April, meanwhile, a separate Nevada Assembly committee passed a psychedelic pilot program bill that would allow some patients with certain medical conditions to legally access substances such as psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline.
If enacted, the program would allow the medically supervised use of psychedelics among military veterans and first responders with certain mental health conditions.
The Assembly Health and Human Services Committee took public testimony on the bill in March, hearing from reform advocates, veterans and their families and members of a state Psychedelic Medicines Working Group, which late last year called on lawmakers to establish a system for regulated access.
Assemblymember Max Carter (D), the measure’s sponsor, was among several Nevada legislators who participated in a recent psychedelic policy summit and expressed optimism that the state could make progress toward legalizing therapeutic use of the substances in the coming year.
Carter joined Nguyen in a discussion panel organized by the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines. Both lawmakers were members of the state Psychedelic Medicines Working Group that in December issued a report calling on the legislature to create a program for regulated access to psychedelic-assisted therapy.
In 2023, Nguyen sponsored legislation that would have legalized psilocybin and promoted further research into the drug, as well as encouraged studies of MDMA—but the was significantly scaled back in a Senate committee to examine the use of entheogens “in medicinal, therapeutic, and improved wellness” and develop a future plan for regulated access. It ultimately became the vehicle that created the state psychedelics working group.
Separately in the state legislature, lawmakers are also weighing a measure that would allow people with past marijuana possession convictions to become foster parents provided the amount of cannabis they were convicted for is now legal under state law.
A conviction for the possession, use, distribution of any controlled substance disqualifies a prospective foster parent.
The Federal Court Allows the Lawsuit to Proceed for Home Psilocybin Treatment, and Rejects Oregon Officials’ Motion to Dismiss
Carlosemmaskype, Apollo and other photographers provided the images.
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