One of the biggest policy failures of the “War on Drugs” in terms of its purported public safety benefit was that its simple messaging and resulting law led to the grouping of naturally occurring plant medicines, such as cannabis and psilocybin, with manufactured and highly dangerous substances, like methamphetamine. Ultimately, the war not only tragically robbed thousands of people of their freedom and property, but it also robbed society of the use of these substances for physical, mental and spiritual health for decades.
Over the last 20 years, the public opinion of the War has shifted dramatically from the time when the Federal Controlled Substances act was passed. Today, people throughout the United States have access to cannabis for medicinal use through State run programs. The same shift is happening regarding psychedelic medicines with the decriminalization and establishment of the Oregon medical psilocybin program set to begin in 2023 and the recent passing of Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act, in Colorado, which mandates a regulated natural medicine access program be established by 2024.
Change is happening here in California as well. In the last five years psilocybin and other naturally occurring psychedelics have been decriminalized in the cities of Santa Cruz, Oakland, Arcata and San Francisco. In 2022, California Senator Scott Weiner introduced SB 519, which was originally drafted to decriminalize psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, mescaline and LSD. Although that legislation failed to ultimately succeed in decriminalization, the groundwork has been laid for the future.
Unlike cannabis, research into the medical benefits of psychedelics is strongly encouraged by the US Food and Drug Administration by granting “Breakthrough Therapy” status to multiple psychedelic substances including psilocybin and MDMA. Studies are now being conducted throughout the United States for the use of psychedelics to treat multiple indications including treatment resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety and compulsive behavior. These studies look to usher in a promising new era in mental health where patients can obtain sustained relief with less negative side effects from debilitating mental health conditions through the use of psychedelic medicines.
The attorneys at Armada Law Corp have nearly 30 years combined experience fighting for the rights of California medical cannabis patients and have been advising commercial cannabis clients since the implementation of Proposition 64 and the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis and Regulation and Safety Act. They are in a unique position to provide guidance and advocacy as to the evolving legal status of medicinal psychedelics including:

Patient’s Rights
Spiritual Rights
Government Advocacy

Contact Armada Law Corp for your free consultation (510) 200-8695

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