Utah’s full legislature has passed legislation establishing a pilot program that allows hospitals to administer psilocybin (aka “magic mushrooms) and MDMA (aka “ecstasy) to certain patients.
Psilocybin (left) and MDMA (right).
Sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Kirk Cullimore (R) and House Speaker Pro Tempore James Dunnigan (R), Senate Bill 266 was approved unanimously through both the House and Senate. The measure has been sent to Governor Spencer Cox (R) for consideration. Even if Cox were to veto the measure, it has well more than enough support to override a governor’s veto.
The legislature’s passage of the bill comes roughly two years after Governor Cox signed into law legislation establishing a task force to study the therapeutic potential of psychedelic drugs and give recommendation to lawmakers.
Under the proposed law, psilocybin and MDMA could be administered by a privately owned and not-for-profit healthcare system that has 15 or more licensed hospitals, or is “closely affiliated with an institution of higher education”. Any healthcare system that decides to take part in the pilot program must inform the legislature by July 1, 2026.
If signed into law by Governor Cox, allowed to become law without his signature, or if it’s vetoed with the legislature overriding it, the bill would take effect on May 1 of this year. It would sunset after three years.
You can find the full text of SB 266 by clicking here.
