The Psychedelics Year in Review (2021)
Psychedelics developments in 2021 covered everything from legalization and decriminalization to pharmaceutical advances and public company milestones.
Despite Initial Setback, Florida Lawmakers Remain Intent on Psychedelics Reform
In April of this year, Florida’s first attempt at psychedelics reform failed, as a House subcommittee rejected HB 549. This bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Grieco (D-Miami Beach), would have legalized the use of psilocybin for mental treatment in the nation’s third most populous state. Despite this setback, 2021 could yet be a pivotal year
A Strategy for Rescheduling Psilocybin
Public and scientific interest in psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA is expanding. Once off-limits because of federal prohibition, a trickle of research from the 1990s has grown into a stream. But despite increasing acceptance by the public, and commercial investment in psychedelic therapies, aging federal laws stem the flow of vital research. Psilocybin, a
Oregon Psilocybin: Advisory Board and Licensing Update
On March 18, Governor Kate Brown appointed members to the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board, which held its first meeting on March 31. Since then, the Board has met monthly and created five subcommittees to study facets of the emerging psilocybin industry including research, equity, manufacturing, training, and licensing. I chair the Licensing Subcommittee, which focuses
Psychedelic Decriminalization and Legalization Roundup
Cities and States Who Have Adopted Psychedelic Decriminalization It’s not been two years since Denver decriminalized psilocybin. In that span of time, cities and states across the country have adopted or are considering adopting sweeping decriminalization (and even legalization!) laws that apply to psilocybin and in some cases, even a host of other psychedelic substances.
Citywide Psychedelic Decriminalization Doesn’t Protect Commercial Activities
Over the last year, a handful of cities have passed decriminalization measures for psilocybin and other plant psychedelics. Denver was the first jurisdiction to pass a decriminalization measure, and Oakland, Santa Cruz, Ann Arbor, and most recently, Washington, D.C., followed suit. Each of these decriminalization measures is different, but fundamentally they are the same in
Top 10 Lessons from Cannabis for the Future Regulated Psychedelic Industry
On November 3, 2020, voters in Oregon approved Measure 109, paving the way for a regime of psilocybin for therapeutic uses in a few years. Oregon and Psilocybin: Does the Approved Ballot Measure Language Stand a Chance Oregon Psychedelics: Petition to Legalize Psilocybin for Therapy Moves Forward Oregon Psychedelics: Psilocybin on the Ballot this November!
The “Right to Try” Psilocybin and New Drug Therapies
I was talking to another lawyer about last week’s vote by Oregonians to legalize psilocybin therapy here in the state. We discussed how licensed facilities won’t be up and running for a few more years, and how, in the meantime, people will have to make do with general decriminalization under Measure 109 and maybe, in
Oregon Psilocybin: Does Measure 109 Go Far Enough? Does it Go Too Far?
We are on record here at the law firm in support of Measure 109. We have friends and colleagues who have worked on the campaign and clients who have written checks, large and small. Legal psilocybin in Oregon? We like the sound of that. But do we unconditionally and unapologetically love the ballot measure? No,
Oregon Psychedelics: Petition to Legalize Psilocybin for Therapy Moves Forward
Last Friday, May 22, petitioners submitted to the Oregon Secretary of State a ballot initiative (IP 34) seeking to permit the use of psilocybin for therapeutic use under a licensing and regulatory framework administered by the Oregon Health Authority (“OHA”). The submission was quite a feat, especially given the challenges presented by COVID-19 during the