Marijuana Moment reports
California appears to be at an “inflection point” on psychedelics reform, a state senator said last week, noting that wider acceptance of the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin could pave the path for enactment of a revised bipartisan bill he plans to advance in 2024—hopefully with the governor’s support this time following a veto of broader legislation this year.
During a virtual panel organized by the Psychedelic and Entheogen Academic Council (PEAC), Sen. Scott Wiener (D) described his work on psychedelics issues in the legislature as “a tortured, winding road, as big policy debates often are.” But he’s optimistic that momentum is on the side of reform.
“I really think we are at a potential inflection point, with a broad population [that] is finally understanding the potential benefits of these substances,” he said. “When you look at the polling—and we’ve seen polling in California and nationally—it actually was surprising to me the level of awareness that there is in the state and in the country about the potential benefits of psychedelics.”
He likened the shift in public opinion to marijuana legalization, arguing that there’s increased bipartisan understanding of, and support for, psychedelics reform. “So I think we are coming to that inflection point around psychedelics,” Wiener repeated.
The senator has already advanced two versions of a psychedelics legalization bill in recent sessions, including one that moved though the legislature last session only to be vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in October. Wiener said he understands the governor’s primary contention was with provisions to legalize low-level possession of certain psychedelics, so he’s planning to craft new bipartisan legislation for the 2024 session that focuses on therapeutic uses.
“I personally continue to be of the strong view that we should not be arresting and prosecuting people for possessing and using these substances—that is not an actual productive way of making them safer—but it is what it is. It’s water under the bridge,” Wiener said, adding that he’s “grateful” that the governor’s veto message for his bill this year offered a “path forward and that he wanted to work with the legislature on a therapeutic bill for psychedelics.”
Read the full report. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/california-senator-says-state-is-at-psychedelics-inflection-point-as-he-plans-dialed-back-therapeutic-focused-bill/
