The powerful Senate Committee has passed a bill with an attached report, which expresses concern over barriers in research on Schedule I drugs such as marijuana. It also promotes increased research into psychoedelics.
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved on Thursday the legislation for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.
Although the bill contains a provision that prevents relevant agencies from using public funds to “promote the legalization” of drugs or substances listed in Schedule I (CSA) of the Controlled Substances Act, language within the accompanying report criticizes the potential research consequences of placing marijuana and psychedelics in Schedule I.
“SEC. 509. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act may be used for any activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or other substance included in schedule I of the schedules of controlled substances established under section 202 of the Controlled Substances Act except for normal and recognized executive-congressional communications.
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply if there are significant medical indications that such drug or substance has a therapeutic advantage or if federally funded clinical trials have been conducted in order to assess therapeutic benefits.”
According to the LaborHHS Report, members of the Committee are concerned that Schedule I restrictions in the Controlled Substances Act limit research conducted on Schedule I substances, including opioids or psychedelics. They also worry that Schedule I restricts the types of drugs that may be researched, such as marijuana and its chemical components.
It says: “At this time, when we are in need of as much research as we can about these drugs, and their antidotes, we must address regulatory and other obstacles to conduct such research.” They also note that NIDA has published a report that identifies “challenges that researchers face due to limited access to marijuana sources, including dispensary-products.”
“The Barriers to Research—The Committee is concerned that restrictions associated with Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act effectively limits the amount and type of research that can be conducted on certain Schedule I drugs, especially opioids, psychedelics, marijuana or its component chemicals, and new synthetic drugs and analogs. We should address regulatory and other obstacles to this research at a time where we are in need of as much knowledge as possible on these drugs, and their adverse effects. The Committee applauds NIDA for completing a study on barriers to research resulting from Schedule I classifications of substances and drugs, as well as the limitations researchers face due to the limited availability of sources of marijuana including products sold in dispensaries.
There are also two sections in the report that specifically deal with psychedelics. In one, committee members say that “increased interest and needs to study psychedelics such as MDMA, ketamine, psilocybin… and their therapeutic effects,” they acknowledge, and want to expand “its current research agenda” for that topic.
The report also urges NIH and the Food and Drug Administration to “develop and support public-private partnerships to advance all types of psychedelics research for therapeutic purposes.”
“Psychedelic Research—The Committee recognizes the increased interest and need to study psychedelics, including MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin, and their potential therapeutic effects. The Committee encourages NIH expand its research agenda within its Institutes and Centers by forming a cross Institutes and Centers group and encouraging psychedelics at the NIH Clinical Center. “The Committee encourages NIH and FDA to collaborate in developing public-private partnerships to promote all types of psychedelics research for therapeutic uses.”
Finally, another section addresses psychedelic therapies, with members calling on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to “examine evidence-based care models for psychedelic or entactogenic-assisted therapies for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.” HHS is required to submit a report on its findings by the end of 2027.
“The Psychedelic Therapies—The Committee encourages the Secretary to examine evidence-based care models for psychedelic or entactogenic-assisted therapies for treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. HHS is to assess how current policies and regulations impact care outcomes and quality. It should also examine the implications for cost of scaling-up care models. Future Federal research areas and best practice in care delivery are all important. This Committee would like to receive an update in fiscal year CJ of 2027 on the activities.
Kennedy is likely to welcome the mandate. He has been a vocal advocate of the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics for serious mental illnesses such as addiction, depression and post-traumatic disorder.
Kennedy is also working with the head of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Doug Collins, to advance psychedelics-assisted therapy for military veterans, and he projected that eligible candidates will see expanded access to the novel treatments within the next year.
A GOP-controlled House committee last month separately approved an amendment attached to a must-pass defense bill that would require a “progress report” on an ongoing psychedelic therapy pilot program for active duty military service members and veterans.
While Congress has been notably amenable to psychedelics research proposals in recent sessions, the House Rules Committee on Monday separately blocked a bipartisan amendment to a spending bill led by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) that would have given DOD another $10 million to support clinical trials into the therapeutic potential of substances such as ibogaine and psilocybin.
In other appropriations-related news, a Republican senator successfully blocked a proposed ban on hemp THC products that was included in a key spending bill, giving the industry a win amid contentious discussions around intoxicating cannabinoids.
A provision in a recent spending bill passed by the Senate would have allowed doctors from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, to recommend medical cannabis to military vets living in legalized states.
Senate Appropriations Committee has also approved a appropriations bill that will maintain the protections provided to states that have medical marijuana programs. This measure will exclude a separate proposal in the House version that prevents the Justice Department rescheduling of cannabis.
The House of Representatives advanced last month a bill to fund the government that included a controversial clause prohibiting Washington, D.C., from spending its tax money on a marijuana-regulated market.
Kristie Gianpulos is the photographer of this image.