A second committee in California’s Senate has given approval to a bill to legalize therapeutic access to a handful of psychedelic substances.
Mescaline (top left), DMT (top right), dried psilocybin mushrooms (bottom left), and MDMA (bottom right).
By a vote of 3 to 2, the Senate Health Committee has voted to pass Senate Bill 1012 Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee voted 7 to 4 today to pass Senate Bill 1012, The Regulated Psychedelic Facilitators Act and the Regulated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Act.
The Senate Health Committee’s approval of the bill comes a week after the measure was passed through the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee by a vote of 7 to 4. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with approval sending it to the full Senate.
Under the proposed law, a system of licensed service centers would be established in which those 21 and older could have legal access, and could legally consume, a variety of psychedelic substances including psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), mescaline, DMT and MDMA.
In October Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill to legalize psychedelics. SB 1012 has been designed to avoid an additional veto by narrowing the scope of the proposal and taking a more moderate approach.
“Psychedelics, when used safely, can turn people’s lives around, and we owe it to Californians to make these substances accessible in a safe and secure context, under the supervision of a licensed professional,” says Senator Scott Weiner, the bill’s primary sponsor. “I thank the Business and Professions Committee for recognizing that need today.”
Under the proposed law, psychedelic facilitators would be required to undergo training and obtain a license from a board established as part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). A “Division of Regulated Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy” would be established under the under the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, tasked with regulations for the new program.
The measure would require those participating in the program to submit to a health and safety screening. That said, no qualifying medical condition would be required.
The full text of this bill can be found by clicking here.
