Truffle report writes
Introduced by Rep. Alex Dominguez (D), a bill was filed in the Texas Legislature on February 10, pushing for a drug policy reform in the state via the study of potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics in treating mental health issues.
The legislation, HB 1802, would direct the Department of State Services to carry out a collaborative study with the Texas Medical Board in evaluating “the therapeutic efficacy of alternative therapies, including the use of 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and ketamine in the treatment of mental health and other medical conditions.”
TEXT
87R6837 MCF-D |
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By: Dominguez |
H.B. No. 1802 |
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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AN ACT |
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relating to a study evaluating the use of alternative therapies for |
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treating certain mental health and other medical conditions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this Act, “department” means the |
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Department of State Health Services. |
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(b) The department, in collaboration with the Texas Medical |
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Board, shall conduct a study to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy |
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of alternative therapies, including the use of |
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3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and |
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ketamine, in the treatment of mental health and other medical |
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conditions, including: |
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(1) depression; |
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(2) anxiety; |
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(3) post-traumatic stress disorder; |
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(4) bipolar disorder; |
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(5) chronic pain; and |
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(6) migraines. |
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(c) In conducting the study described by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, the department shall: |
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(1) evaluate and determine whether alternative |
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therapies are effective in treating the mental health and other |
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medical conditions described by that subsection; and |
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(2) compare the efficacy of the alternative therapies |
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with the efficacy of treatments currently used for the mental |
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health and other medical conditions described by that subsection. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2022, the department shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the |
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legislature a written report containing the results of the study |
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conducted under this section and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action. |
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(e) This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
SOURCE: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB01802I.htm
The study will also “evaluate and determine” whether alternative psychedelic-assisted therapies are effective in treating issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other related mental health concerns. The board is required to submit its findings by December 1, 2022.
A similar proposal to study the benefits of psilocybin was filed in Connecticut in late January, suggesting the establishment of “a task force to study the health benefits of psilocybin.” That bill is currently listed as being “In Committee” for review.
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