politics

Scaled-back proposals to decriminalize psychedelics reignite debate in Mass.

Advocates for a rejected ballot question campaigned on the idea that natural psychedelics can be used to treat some serious mental health conditions, including PTSD, anxiety and depression, as well as for addiction treatment

After voters rejected a ballot question that would have legalized some psychedelics, a number of newly filed bills seek to reignite the conversation about decriminalizing psilocybin.

The bills don't directly mirror the failed ballot measure — which opponents contended was too wide-reaching — and instead represent smaller, more measured steps to introduce legalization across the state and regulate usage for Bay Staters with various medical and mental health conditions.

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Northampton Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa offered a bill (HD 4017) that would introduce a statewide, five-site pilot program in which non-profit centers would offer psilocybin treatment for mental and physical health needs under the administration of mental health and medical professionals.

Sabadosa called the approach "more pragmatic" than the failed measure. Based on feedback and concerns from constituents and voters on either side of the measure, Sabadosa said the idea of utilizing psychedelics in a regulated manner, and for various conditions, isn't what voters opposed — the wording of the individual measure was. She looked to other states where such substances are legal, and found site-monitoring and data-collection to be essential pieces when writing the legislation, she said.

Massachusetts voters said yes to auditing the Legislature but rejected increasing the hourly wage for workers who collect tips. They also rejected the use of certain plant-based psychedelics and eliminated the use of statewide tests as a high school graduation requirement.  Follow NBC10 Boston: https://instagram.com/nbc10boston https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston

Cambridge Rep. Steve Owens — whose bill (HD 3368) would remove certain criminal penalties related to psilocybin that hasn't been medically prescribed — also described receiving extensive feedback. "Over the course of the Question 4 campaign, constituents reached out to me to say that this kind of treatment saved their life," he wrote to MASSterList. "I think we owe it to them to at least continue the conversation."

Cambridge Rep. Marjorie Decker filed a bill (HD 4196) that proposes a pilot "Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy Program," enabling the research and development of psilocybin services for adults struggling with conditions like PTSD, end-of-life stress and depression. Scituate Rep. Patrick Kearney filed another bill (HD 1003) that would establish a framework of "regulated adult use, support services, and cultivation of psilocybin-containing fungi."

While the Legislature has traditionally steered clear of drug legalization debates, there are glimmers of support for psychedelics within the Massachusetts congressional delegation: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren voiced support last year, and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton backed legalization as a tool to support veterans' mental health.

Copyright State House News Service
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