Psychedelics

Detroit’s first “psychedelic church” — which is operated by Soul Tribes and offers psilocybin mushrooms as a holy sacrament — was raided last week by the Detroit Police.

The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission is considering the use of ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychedelic, as a treatment for opioid addiction after hearing from more than a dozen people about their personal and professional experiences with the substance.

London-based Beckley Waves — a psychedelics startup incubator focused on therapies, education, and software — has raised $3.3 million in seed funding.

California lawmakers gave final approval to a proposal to decriminalize the personal possession and use of psilocybin mushrooms and several other plant-based psychedelics including DMT and mescaline. The measure moves next to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) for his signature.

Activists with Decriminalize California are seeking to put a psychedelic mushroom legalization question before voters in 2024. The initiative would legalize the cultivation, possession, and consumption of unlimited amounts of psilocybin mushrooms for adults aged 21+.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) is set to issue an executive order today deprioritizing the enforcement of laws related to naturally-occurring psychedelics like magic mushrooms or ayahuasca.

Recent polling found that a 61% majority of registered U.S. voters would support legalizing therapeutic access to psychedelics.

The Massachusetts-based group Mental Health Options last week filed paperwork signaling plans to put a psychedelics decriminalization ballot question to voters.

The University of California, San Diego Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative has received a $1.5 million philanthropic gift funding an investigation into the effects of DMT on the brain.

Doctors in Australia can now prescribe psychedelics including MDMA and psilocybin as a treatment for PTSD and depression. The changes took effect on July 1.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its Draft Guidance for the research of psychedelic drugs including substances such as psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) said he plans to issue pardons for all criminal convictions in the state related to psychedelics.

The California Senate voted last week to decriminalize the possession of psychedelic substances including psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline by individuals aged 21 or older.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed a bill last week to implement medical psilocybin legalization and decriminalize the personal use and cultivation of other natural psychedelics; the proposal marks lawmakers’ response to last year’s successful psychedelics legalization voter initiative.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) last week signed into law the state’s budget bill which includes $5 million to investigate the medicinal efficacy of whole-mushroom psilocybin.

The Connecticut House voted this week to reduce penalties for the possession of small quantities of psilocybin mushrooms.

Creso Pharma has agreed to fully acquire Australia-based Health House International, which works in the international distribution of medical cannabis products and is licensed to store and trade controlled substances including psilocybin and MDMA.

Oregon regulators have granted the state’s first psychedelic medicine treatment center license to Epic Healing Eugene, which plans to start serving patients later this month.

Researchers at the University of Iowa have launched a pilot study to investigate the use of psilocybin and ketamine as a treatment for alcohol addiction.

Human hair samples recovered from a cave in Spain revealed the use of psychedelics by people at least 3,000 years ago.

A recent study found the psychedelic DMT could improve symptoms of depression when used alongside therapy.

Minnesota state Rep. Andy Smith (D) proposed launching a task force to investigate the potential of psychedelics as mental illness treatments, prioritizing the substances LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin.

Lawmakers in the Missouri House passed a measure last week to mandate studies investigating psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms, as a mental health treatment.

Washington lawmakers have pared the state’s psychedelic therapies proposal down to just a pilot program that would allow some military veterans and first responders to access the treatment.