Psychedelic Therapy Legislation Expands Across the U.S.

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Psychedelic Therapy Legislation Expands Across the U.S.

published:

March 31, 2025

updated:

March 31, 2025

TL;DR:

State legislatures are actively considering psychedelic therapy laws:

  • Virginia passed a bill to create a council for researching breakthrough therapies for veterans.
  • New Mexico proposed a Medical Psilocybin Act to legalize clinical psilocybin use.
  • New Hampshire introduced a bill allowing psilocybin possession and use for adults.
  • Kansas introduced legislation to reclassify a patented psilocybin formulation as a Schedule IV drug.

Washington is debating a state-regulated psychedelic services program while activists push for personal-use protections.

Psychedelic Therapy Legislation Expands Across the U.S.

The push for psychedelics reform is gaining momentum at the state level, with multiple bills being introduced across the U.S. aimed at legalizing or regulating psychedelic-assisted therapy. While some focus on supporting clinical research and treatment programs, others address personal-use decriminalization and regulatory frameworks.

Virginia’s Push for Veteran Suicide Prevention Through Psychedelic Research

Last month, Virginia’s Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 1101, which would establish the Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. If enacted, the council would support research into the use of psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine for treating PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, major depressive disorder, and traumatic brain injury. The bill now moves to the House for a vote.

New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Act Seeks State-Legal Use

New Mexico lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 219, or the Medical Psilocybin Act, which would legalize psilocybin for medical use at the state level. This bill would allow clinicians to prescribe psilocybin, patients to use it for treatment, and licensed producers to cultivate it. A state-run advisory board would be created to oversee the program, which would be initially funded with $2 million from the state’s Department of Health’s general funds.

New Hampshire’s Psilocybin Bill Lacks Possession Limits

New Hampshire has taken a different approach by introducing House Bill 528-FN, which would allow adults over 21 to “obtain, purchase, transport, possess, or use psilocybin” starting in 2026. Notably, this bill does not establish an upper possession limit, a departure from similar legislation in other states.

Kansas Considers Reclassifying Patented Psilocybin

Following legislative efforts in Colorado and Virginia, Kansas lawmakers introduced House Bill 2218, which seeks to exclude "crystalline polymorph psilocybin" (COMP360)—a proprietary psilocybin formulation patented by Compass Pathways—from the state’s definition of psilocybin. Instead, the bill would classify COMP360 as a Schedule IV drug, potentially paving the way for its regulated medical use. The bill’s introduction raises questions about why this specific formulation is being prioritized over broader psilocybin policy reform.

Washington Debates a State-Regulated Psychedelic Services Program

Washington is considering Senate Bill 5201, which would create a state-regulated psychedelic services program starting in 2027, similar to programs in Oregon and Colorado. A companion bill, HB 1433, was also introduced in the House. However, the proposal has drawn criticism from psychedelic advocates, who argue that the bill prioritizes a regulated industry while maintaining criminal penalties for personal use.

Advocacy group REACH Washington Coalition has opposed the bill’s current language, citing concerns that it would create a costly, restrictive system that limits access while criminalizing non-clinical use. In Oregon, where a regulated psilocybin program exists, a single session costs upwards of $1,000, even though the substance itself can be cultivated at minimal expense.

In response to these concerns, Representative Nicole Macri (D) proposed an amendment clarifying that local governments retain the right to deprioritize psilocybin-related law enforcement. However, critics argue that the bill still allows for criminal penalties, including gross misdemeanors for unlicensed facilitation and potential Class C felonies for repeat violations.

Washington Also Weighing Ibogaine Research for Opioid Use Disorder

At a recent Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee meeting, lawmakers discussed Senate Bill 5204, which would direct the University of Washington to conduct a study on ibogaine-assisted therapy for opioid use disorder. The research would be led by Nathan Sackett, director of the Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry.

Conclusion

The psychedelics policy landscape is evolving rapidly, with different states taking varied approaches—some prioritizing veteran mental health research, others legalizing clinical psilocybin use, and some advocating for regulated psychedelic therapy models. However, debates over accessibility, criminalization, and corporate influence remain ongoing. As more states move toward reform, the next few months could be pivotal in shaping the future of psychedelic medicine in the U.S.

Q&A:

Q: What does Virginia’s Senate Bill 1101 propose?
A: The bill would establish a Breakthrough Therapies for Veteran Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to assist the state in researching and implementing psychedelic treatments for PTSD, depression, and brain injuries.

Q: How is New Mexico’s Medical Psilocybin Act different from other bills?
A: This bill would create a legal medical psilocybin program overseen by a state advisory board, allowing licensed providers to prescribe psilocybin to patients. Unlike other bills that focus on research or decriminalization, this initiative would establish a structured state-legal industry.

Q: Why is New Hampshire’s psilocybin bill notable?
A: Unlike many other psilocybin-related bills, House Bill 528-FN does not specify a limit on possession or use, making it one of the least restrictive proposals seen to date.

Q: What is the significance of Kansas’ House Bill 2218?
A: The bill seeks to reclassify a specific psilocybin formulation (COMP360) as a Schedule IV drug while leaving other forms of psilocybin under stricter controls. The motivation behind this distinction remains unclear.

Q: What are the main concerns about Washington’s Senate Bill 5201?
A: Critics argue that while the bill creates a legal psychedelic services program, it does not protect individuals who use psilocybin outside of regulated settings. Advocacy groups fear it could criminalize harm reduction efforts, religious use, and affordable access to psychedelics.

Q: What does Washington’s Senate Bill 5204 propose?
A: The bill would fund a University of Washington study on ibogaine-assisted therapy for opioid addiction, led by researcher Nathan Sackett.

For more updates on psychedelic policy developments, stay tuned as these bills move through legislative processes.

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