New York legislators are re-examining the possibilities of changing the state laws on psychedelics. An hearing was held to gather testimony regarding the health benefits that may be associated with psilocybin.
The Assembly Health Committee debated for hours on Tuesday the medicinal value of the “magic mushroom” main ingredient. Numerous experts and activists spoke about this issue, as lawmakers weighed in the science of possible regulation of the new therapy.
The chairwoman of the panel, Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D), introduced a bill to legalize psilocybin for adults last year, provided they obtain a permit after undergoing a health screening and educational course.
The committee would like to hear your testimony in order to determine what steps we could take. [psychedelics] She said it was “legal and appropriate” for doctors to prescribe a drug that, despite admitting its effectiveness, they could not legally do in New York.
Assemblymember Josh Jensen said, in his remarks at the opening of the meeting, that the “fast pace of Albany makes it critical to have subject experts gather and speak about the more nuanced issues of policy which we will be addressing in future legislative sessions.”
Joseph McKay told the lawmakers that the psilocybin he took to relieve his “excruciating headaches” “gave him back my life”.
McKay told Gothamist that “the truth is so many New Yorkers already buy and use psilocybin without any regulations and with no instruction on the safe usage of this medication.” New York should have a system that allows law-abiding individuals, such as first responders or health professionals to purchase regulated and safe psilocybin.
Paulin said, in a statement, that “the expert testimony of the hearing makes it clear that psilocybin is a promising treatment for debilitating disorders like depression, PTSD, chronic pain and cluster headaches that have not responded to conventional therapies.”
As we examine legislation that will expand access to New York, it is important to create a framework for safety. This ensures the proper supervision of patients and doctors.
A lawmaker from New York added: “Many New Yorkers have mental illnesses and chronic pain, but do not receive adequate treatment.”
Paulin stated that it was time to investigate how to safely increase access to this treatment while still protecting the public’s health. It is our duty to explore every possible avenue to help those with crippling conditions.
In recent legislative sessions, New York legislators took a particular interest in the reform of psychedelics.
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For example, in January, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D) filed legislation calling for the legalization of certain entheogenic substances such as psilocybin and ibogaine for adults 21 and older.
The bill would amend the state statutes to legalize “possession or use of hallucinogens derived from natural plants or fungi, including their cultivation, production, and creation; analysis, gifts, exchanges, or shares by or among natural persons aged 21 or over.”
DMT and mescaline would all fall under “natural hallucinogens that are plant- or fungus based” which would be allowed by this bill.
Rosenthal’s measure was introduced just days after another New York lawmaker, Sen. Nathalia Fernandez (D), prefiled a measure that would legalize psilocybin therapy for patients with qualifying conditions.
According to the proposal, psilocybin could be administered by a certified facilitator either in a clinic setting or, for those who are not able travel, at home. Both patients and facilitators are protected from state prosecution.
Fernandez also filed an earlier version of the bill last session, but it did not move out of committee either. The latest version has only minor changes in terms of technical content.
Bicameral New York lawmakers said at a briefing last year that there was a “real chance” that legislation to legalize psilocybin-assisted therapy would advance through committee, emphasizing that delaying action would “neglect” many “people who need help” with certain mental health conditions. This did not happen.
“We’re in a mental health crisis, and so we need every tool that’s available to us,” Assemblymember Pat Burke (D), who sponsored another bill to create a psilocybin therapy pilot program for 10,000 people, said. The Assemblymember added, “We’re here today to end the drug war.”
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