Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2841 into law on Thursday, a measure that would streamline the application process for studying psychedelics and marijuana
A researcher working with psilocybin mushrooms (photo credit: Getty Images).
The new law allows the Research Advisory Panel to hold closed sessions to discuss sensitive and confidential information. The bill, which passed the Assembly earlier this month by a unanimous 72-0 vote and the Senate in June with a 40-0 vote, is designed to enhance the security of research projects involving cannabis and hallucinogenic drugs.
Authored by Assemblymember Marie Waldron, AB 2841 amends Section 11126 of the Government Code and adds Section 11480.5 to the Health and Safety Code. The bill permits the Research Advisory Panel to review and approve research projects containing trade secrets, intellectual property, or proprietary information without public disclosure. This move aligns the panel’s operations with the confidentiality provisions similar to those allowed under the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act for other state bodies.
The bill also designates the Research Advisory Panel as a multimember advisory body, enabling it to hold open meetings via teleconference, subject to specific requirements. The panel is tasked with providing a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2026, addressing the backlog of research applications.
Governor Newsom emphasized the urgency of the bill, declaring it effective immediately. “Protecting the integrity of research projects is crucial for the advancement of scientific knowledge in the field of controlled substances,” Newsom stated.
This legislative action follows Newsom’s veto of a more comprehensive bill to legalize psychedelics last year. The previous bill aimed to legalize the possession and personal use of certain psychedelic substances. Newsom cited concerns over the bill’s lack of regulatory framework and potential public health risks as reasons for his veto.
