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assachusetts lawmakers have advanced a groundbreaking measure to establish a state-sanctioned psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program. The move could create a narrower medical framework for legal access, following the controversial defeat of Question 4, a psychedelic legalization and decriminalization ballot measure, in 2024.
The new psychedelics measure was inserted as an amendment into an economic development omnibus bill, which passed the House by 148 votes to 2 on July 8.
If it becomes law, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health will be required to develop and implement the five-year pilot. Up to three licensed mental health clinics would be authorized to provide monitored care using naturally occurring psychedelics, such as psilocybin.
The pilot program would exclude commercial interests. Participating providers could not be subsidiaries, affiliates or members of cannabis industry organizations, psychedelic molecule development companies, or pharmaceutical companies.
The clinics would be required to track patient outcomes related to the diagnosis and psychedelic treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD and substance use disorder. The health department would use this data to refine clinical protocols and finalize regulatory frameworks. The department would be tasked with drafting regulations for patient assessment and program oversight, and would also coordinate with research institutions to expedite federally authorized research on psychedelic-assisted therapies.
The measure would additionally establish a Medical Psychedelics Fund to finance access for people in need, structured similarly to the psilocybin treatment equity fund in New Mexico.
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Massachusetts House Advances Psychedelic Therapy Pilot Program
