Psilocybin is back on the table in Nevada

Nevada Democratic Senator Rochelle Nguyen presented a joint resolution on Tuesday in front of the Operations and Elections Committee that continues her fight to decriminalize psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms.

The resolution, which is sort of like a letter to Congress, won’t impact law. Instead, it makes a statement urging federal lawmakers to reschedule psilocybin. Psilocybin is currently a Schedule 1 drug, which is defined as “substances that are classified as having a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.”

Cannabis is also listed as a Schedule 1 drug, although it is legal for both medical and recreational use in Nevada.

Jon Dalton, President of the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicine, stood beside Nguyen to present the resolution. 

“With bipartisan support behind this resolution, Nevada is standing up to demand federal action, ensuring that science, not outdated drug policies, dictates access to life-saving treatment,” Dalton said in the committee hearing.

Dalton hopes that Congress can see the medical benefits of psilocybin in treating certain mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.

“ Patients with PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders, many of whom have exhausted all conventional treatment options, are unable to access these therapies due to federal restrictions. I myself have had to leave the country and travel to Tijuana, Mexico, so I could legally engage in what was truly life-saving therapy,” he said.

Tuesday’s resolution on psilocybin comes as lawmakers introduced Assembly Bill 378, which would create a pilot program allowing certain patients who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition to access psychedelic treatment in Nevada. States with similar programs include Oregon and Colorado.

A 2023 bill created a psilocybin working group in Nevada to study the possible effects decriminalization and medical use of the drug would have in the state.

“ The Working Group Report has outlined the scientific evidence and clinical research supporting psychedelic-assisted therapy.” Dalton said.

Among other things, the working group recommended that lawmakers should consider revising Nevada law to reduce penalties for psilocybin, and create a pilot program for certain patients to start the supervised use of psilocybin for mental health treatment.

The 2023 bill, which was first introduced to decriminalize psilocybin, faced serious hurdles in the legislature and was eventually amended to create the working group whose findings were presented this legislative session. This indicates that, despite the working group’s recommendations, AB 378 could face similar challenges this time around.

The measure is now with the Assembly Committee on Health and Human Services, but a hearing has yet to be scheduled.

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