California Moves to Legalize Psychedelic Therapy

A bipartisan bill introduced in California aims to legalize the use of certain psychedelics in therapeutic settings, marking a significant shift in the state's approach to mental health treatment.

California lawmakers have introduced a bill to legalize psychedelic therapy, allowing adults 21 and older to use drugs like psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA, DMT, and mescaline under supervision.
The bill, inspired by Gov. Gavin Newsom's call for regulated psychedelic therapies, requires the establishment of a licensing board for therapy facilitators.
Research into psychedelic therapies shows promise in treating mental illnesses such as depression and PTSD, with the FDA reviewing MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD.
The proposal has bipartisan support, with both Democratic and Republican lawmakers backing the initiative as a new approach to mental health treatment.
The bill follows a veto by Gov. Newsom of a broader decriminalization bill, emphasizing a focus on therapeutic use rather than decriminalization of possession.