Ecstasy, \u201cmagic mushrooms\u201d and other psychedelic drugs could soon be recognized as therapeutic in California \u2014 one of the latest states, and the biggest, to consider allowing their use as medicine.<\/p>\n

Legislation by state Sen. Scott Wiener<\/strong> (D) and Assembly member Marie Waldron<\/strong> (R) would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin, mescaline, ecstasy and dimethyltryptamine \u2014 a chemical that occurs in the psychoactive ayahuasca plant mixture \u2014 in state-approved locations under the supervision of licensed individuals. It would also regulate the production, distribution, quality control and sale of those psychedelics.<\/p>\n

The bill is intended to get across the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/strong>, a Democrat who vetoed broader decriminalization legislation last year while calling psychedelics \u201can exciting frontier\u201d and asking for \u201cregulated treatment guidelines\u201d in the next version.<\/p>\n

While most psychedelics are prohibited under federal law, research has shown<\/u><\/a> them to be promising treatments for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. Several large cities including D.C.<\/u><\/a>, have effectively decriminalized their use, as has Colorado. Oregon, which previously decriminalized personal possession of all illegal drugs, including psychedelics, rolled back that policy but created a system to regulate the use of psilocybin mushrooms.<\/p>\n

Leanne Cavellini<\/strong>, 49, of Pleasanton, Calif., attended a psychedelic retreat in Mexico this year. She said the experience helped her overcome deep-rooted trauma.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe person I was before was a wound-up tight ball of rubber bands who kept everything in and felt a lot of fear and worry,\u201d Cavellini said. \u201cThe person I am today is very free. I live in the present moment. I don\u2019t live other people\u2019s lives, and I don\u2019t take on their emotions.\u201d<\/p>\n

State regulation, though, doesn\u2019t always mean easy access. Oregon permits consumption of psilocybin mushrooms only under the guidance of state-licensed facilitators in \u201cpsilocybin service centers.\u201d Sessions can cost more than $2,500<\/strong>; they\u2019re not covered by insurance.<\/p>\n

Colorado is building regulated \u201chealing centers,\u201d where people will be able to take psilocybin mushrooms and some other psychedelics under the supervision of licensed facilitators.<\/p>\n

In California, one obstacle is the state\u2019s $45 billion<\/strong> budget deficit. Its elected leaders are already looking for programs to cut. One that doesn\u2019t yet exist could be low-hanging fruit.<\/p>\n

Under the pending legislation, anyone hoping to be licensed to supervise people using psychedelics will need a professional health credential.<\/p>\n

Bills pending in several other states would ease access to psychedelics or relax current laws against them.<\/p>\n

Some first responder and veterans groups are among legalization\u2019s biggest boosters, and there is significant public support. A survey<\/u><\/a> out of the University of California at Berkeley <\/strong>last year showed 61 percent<\/strong> of registered voters in the United States support regulated therapeutic access to psychedelics \u2014 though nearly half of those respondents said such drugs were not \u201cgood for society.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ken Finn<\/strong>, the former president of the American Board of Pain Medicine<\/strong>, said although the science around psychedelics is promising, the California legislation is premature \u201cpending more robust and rigorous research to protect public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

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