Testimony again heard on psilocybin-assisted treatment. Can a bipartisan bill get passed?
Last year Washington lawmakers introduced — and failed to pass — legislation to permit the use of psilocybin in therapeutic settings.
This year, similar legislation has been introduced with bipartisan support.
On Monday, the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5263. Like last year, Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, is sponsoring the legislation along with several other Senate Democrats. Sen. Ann Rivers from La Center, and Sen. Ron Muzzall from Oak Harbor, are the two Republicans co-sponsoring the bill.
Psilocybin is the hallucinogenic compound found in mushrooms that can produce intense feelings of euphoria. Indigenous people have used psychedelic mushrooms ceremoniously and medicinally for thousands of years.
The bill would do a few things.
The Department of Health would be required to set up a regulatory system for the use of psilocybin in patients 21 and older by Jan. 1, 2024. Along with other state agencies and a Psilocybin Advisory Board, DOH would be tasked with creating standards for the manufacturing, testing, packaging, and labeling of psilocybin products.
Adults in Washington state would then be able to purchase psilocybin products in service centers for use in therapeutic settings. Patients would then be able to undergo preparation sessions, administration sessions and integration sessions with qualified therapists.
Several veterans testified Monday in support of the bill.
Corey Champagne, a Marine Corps veteran and a volunteer for the Fireside Project, a psychedelic peer support helpline, told the committee that he was testifying in support of the legislation because he has struggled with mental health issues. His access to psychedelic-assisted therapy has helped him heal, he said.
“As you know, there’s a mental health crisis amongst the veteran community and we need tools that work,” Champagne said. “It’s a significant concern and it’s important that we explore new ways to help these veterans and first responders. I believe psychedelic-assisted therapy is a powerful tool in treating PTSD, depression and anxiety.
“I know some of you think this is a little outside of the box, and it is, however the Marine Corps taught me to be adaptable and think outside of the box, and this is exactly what we need to do to solve this mental health crisis,” Champagne added.
Not everyone at the public hearing was in support, however.
Dr. Avanti Bergquist, who represented the Washington State Psychiatric Association, said there are some concerns about the legislation.
First, she said, there is no conclusive evidence yet that psilocybin can be used as a medication. Medication requires conclusive evidence that the treatment is helpful, not harmful, Avanti noted.
Second, Avanti encouraged legislators to use unbiased evidence when citing the potential benefits of psilocybin. Risks, too, should be added to the evidence used when providing the public with information about the advantages.
And finally, she suggested that a psychiatrist with experience in substance use treatment or psilocybin research be included on the Psilocybin Advisory Board.
The bill is not yet scheduled for an executive committee. Legislators have until Feb. 17 to pass bills out of their committee of origin.
After being banned in 1970, most research on the safety and efficacy of using psychedelic compounds in treating certain disorders was halted. But support has grown recently for use of psilocybin in treatment settings.
Oregon passed Measure 109 in 2020 to legalize psilocybin in therapeutic treatment. In 2022, Proposition 122 legalized the use of psilocybin-assisted therapeutic services in Colorado, and residents there will be allowed to access treatment services by the end of 2024.
This story was originally published January 31, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Testimony again heard on psilocybin-assisted treatment. Can a bipartisan bill get passed?."
