The Texas House of Representatives has given initial approval to a Senate-passed bill to create a grant program to support research into the therapeutic potential of ibogaine—aiming to encourage the federal government to approve legal access to the psychedelic.
The legislation of Sen. Tan Parker, R, cleared the House on Monday in a vote of 141-2 in second reading. Final approval is still pending in the chamber. The Senate approved it last week with a vote of 26-5.
Ibogaine “isn’t just a drug”. Rep. Cody Harris’ (R) description of it was “a whisper of salvation in one dose.” The drug can calm the withdrawal screams, quell the addiction-causing cravings and repair the damaged pieces in a mind that has been ravaged.
“This isn’t a far-off dream. He said that it is happening right now, just beyond Texas’ borders. Texas can help bring this home. “We are a state that has big hearts, and we’re not afraid to show compassion when there is suffering. One million Texans struggle with opioid addiction. Numerous others carry silent burdens such as depression, TBI and anxiety. Ibogaine may be the miracle for them.”
It would establish a program of grants through the Health and Human Services Commission to support clinical trials which explore ibogaine’s potential as a treatment for those suffering from opioid addiction disorder and other mental illnesses.
The bill’s purpose is to secure the approval of psychedelics by the Food and Drug Administration.
Parker stated on Senate floor that traditional treatments are often ineffective. Veteran’s are already seeking such treatments abroad in potentially dangerous conditions. Texas offers regulated, safer access at home.
Texas has the potential to be a leader in “novel, research-based therapies for severe mental health and substance abuse challenges,” according to Politico.
Harris admitted on the floor that there was “a lot of doubt, so it is very important for us to send out a message in unity that this legislation needs to be passed.”
This measure has been slightly modified to include therapeutics containing ibogaine and its analogues in the definition. The legislation would have to be re-sent to the Senate because it was altered.
The analysis states that OUD continues to be “one of the most pernicious threats to our public health, destroying individuals, families and communities throughout Texas and the United States.” It also says “current treatments are ineffective in treating OUD. Lives are lost as a consequence.”
Ibogaine “showed incredible promise as a fast and effective treatment for OUD, and other co-occurring or related conditions,” the report says. It says that ibogaine will need to undergo FDA-approved, expensive clinical trials before becoming a viable alternative treatment.
This proposed program of public-private partnership envisioned in the law “will fund the FDA’s drug-development trials for ibogaine, to ensure FDA approval of ibogaine for treating OUD and co-occurring substances use disorders as well as any other neurological conditions or mental health problems for which it demonstrates efficacy.”
Grant money is only available for organizations who are “for-profit or nonprofit” and capable of conducting clinical studies on ibogaine. These trials could help the FDA approve the medicine.
The analysis states that “if before implementing a provision of the Bill, a state agencies determines that a waiver from federal agency for the implementation of this provision is required.
This measure was passed just days after Texas House approved a set of bills to allow for rapid access to psychedelic assisted therapy if the FDA approves it.
One bill—HB 4014, from Rep. John Bucy III (D)—would establish a state-backed study into the use of psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine to treat conditions such as PTSD and depression. The other—HB 4813, from Rep. Tom Oliverson (R)—aims to minimize delay at the state level if and when FDA approves a new drug, such as psilocybin or MDMA.
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Meanwhile, earlier this month, a Texas House committee approved a Senate-passed bill that would prohibit cities from putting any citizen initiative on local ballots that would decriminalize marijuana or other controlled substances—as several localities have already done despite lawsuits from the state attorney general.
According to the proposed amendments, the state law will be changed so that local authorities “may not put an item on the ballot that provides that they local entity won’t fully enforce state drug laws, such as a charter, or charter amendement, which would require that the local authority” does not.
While several courts have previously upheld local cannabis decriminalization laws, an appellate court comprised of three conservative justices appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has recently pushed back against two of those rulings, siding with the state in its legal challenge to the marijuana policy in Austin and San Marcos.
Despite the ongoing litigation and advancement of the House and Senate bills, Texas activists have their targets set on yet another city, Kyle, where they hope put an initiative before voters to enact local marijuana reform at the ballot this coming November.
Colorado Lawmakers pass bill to streamline marijuana industry regulatory restrictions, sending it to the Governor
Image courtesy Flickr/Scamperdale
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