USA: New Jersey takes a new step towards regulating psilocybin therapy

New Jersey has taken another step towards legalizing assisted therapy with psilocybin, a psychedelic substance found in mushrooms and studied for its potential benefits in mental health. 

A bill creating a regulated program for therapeutic use has progressed in the state's Legislature after being approved by the Appropriations Committee, according to information from the Marijuana Moment website.

How would psilocybin therapy work

The bill establishes a regulatory model similar to that adopted by other U.S. states, focusing exclusively on the therapeutic and supervised use of psilocybin. The text foresees the creation of a state licensing system that includes manufacturers, service centers, testing laboratories, and facilitators responsible for accompanying patients during the therapeutic process.

The proposal also mandates the formation of a Psilocybin Advisory Board, which will be responsible for defining which health conditions can be treated, as well as establishing guidelines on dosage, safety, informed consent, and training of the professionals involved. 

Read Also - Psilocybin emerges as an innovative and humane alternative in chronic pain care
 

Access to treatment will require a referral from a licensed healthcare professional, and the protocol should include preparatory and integration sessions after the use of the substance.

Legislative progress and next steps

While previous versions of the bill anticipated broader decriminalization of psilocybin, the current text is more restrictive and focuses exclusively on regulated therapeutic use. The proposal adds to measures already taken in the state to reduce penalties related to the substance and reflects a broader movement in the United States to review policies on psychedelics in the context of mental health.

With approval in the Appropriations Committee, the bill now moves on to further stages in the state Legislature, including possible voting in the Assembly and the Senate. If definitively approved, New Jersey could join the group of states advancing in the regulation of psychedelic therapies as a complementary alternative in the treatment of mental disorders.

With information from Marijuana Moment.