Arizona lawmakers approved two separate bills focused on psychoedelic therapy.
Senate has passed a law to establish an advisory board to examine the psilocybin science, state and federal policy surrounding psychedelics, while House approved another bill for funding clinical trials of ibogaine.
After being significantly changed in committee by members, the Senate passed Sen. T. J. Shope’s (R) Senate bill on Tuesday with a vote of 23-4. The central provision to create licensed psilocybin services centers for adult mental health patients was removed.
The House advanced ibogaine legislation sponsored by Rep. Justin Wilmeth, (R), on Monday with a vote of 36-22, and sent it to the Senate. The state Department of Health Services would receive funding to conduct a clinical study on using ibogaine as a treatment for neurological disorders.
A previous version of Shope’s Senate Psilocybin Act passed both chambers with its regulated access component intact last year, but was vetoed the Democratic Governor, who claimed that, “we don’t yet have the data needed to support a widespread expansion in clinical practice.”
The previous year, Governor. Katie Hobbs (D), signed budget legislation into law that included provisions funding research into the medicinal potential of psilocybin for various conditions.
This bill, which was passed by the Senate, aims to use some of these $5 million for the creation of an Arizona Psilocybin Advisory Board. The board will consist of 12 or more members who are appointed by both legislative and governor leaders.
The members would be military veterans and first responders as well as scientists and doctors with psilocybin experience.
According to the bill, the Board would have to be chosen by December 31, 2020 and their first meeting held by March 1 2026.
By July 31st 2025, and every year thereafter, members would have to produce a report that examined the “safety of psilocybin for treating mental disorders, such as addiction, depression and anxiety disorders, and end-of life psychological distress.”
The report also looked at the “proposed, enacted and proposed laws, regulations and policy regarding psilocybin” by other state governments or federal agencies.
Meanwhile, ahead of the House vote on Wilmeth’s ibogaine bill, former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)—who also championed psychedelics reform while serving in Congress—called on the state legislature to pass the legislation, while pledging to personally raise $5 million in philanthropic donations to support the psychedelic research if it’s is ultimately enacted.
—
MEDCAN24 tracks hundreds of marijuana, psychedelics, and drug policy legislation in state legislatures this year. Patreon members who pledge at least $25/month gain access to interactive maps, charts, and hearing schedules so that they do not miss anything.
Find out more about the tracker of marijuana legislation and support us on Patreon for access.
—
Under the psychedelics research legislation that was already enacted through the budget, a Psilocybin Research Advisory Council was established under the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), and members met for the first time last November prior an open application period for potential grant recipients.
Grant money will be awarded to those who submit proposals that focus on clinical trials to determine therapeutic applications for 13 conditions that may receive FDA approval.
Hobbs also signed a law into effect last year that allows firefighters with PTSD and peace officers to receive workers compensation benefits for MDMA treatment if the drug is legalized federally.
California Report: Federal ban on Interstate Marijuana Commerce Hurts Legal Businesses and Helps Illicit Market, but Bans the Interstate Commerce of Marijuana?
Dick Culbert provided the photo.
MEDCAN24 could not exist without readers’ support. Please consider making a Patreon monthly pledge if you depend on our cannabis journalism for information.
