NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — New York legislators introduced a bill on Wednesday to decriminalize adult possession and use of some hallucinogens.
The legislation would allow for possession, use, cultivation and gifting of the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms — psilocybin, as well as DMT, mescaline, psilocin and ibogaine.
The bill, which was sponsored by Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal, Jo Anne Simon and Karines Reyes, would not allow for sale of these drugs — emulating New York’s approach to cannabis.
In 2019, New York State decriminalized recreational cannabis, but it didn’t legalize the sale of the drug until 2021.
“While New York State has taken important first steps over the years through its decriminalization and legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis, more must be done to allow individuals to access the benefits that natural hallucinogens can bring,” wrote lawmakers in the bill. “Years of research into naturally occurring substances has documented their success in alleviating pain, substance use disorder, symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, including end of life anxiety and other conditions.”
Early studies have shown that hallucinogens administered in a controlled environment by professionals have great potential to treat mental illness, but years of criminalization have complicated research.
Most hallucinogens, including the ones addressed in the bill, have been classified as schedule one drugs under the Controlled Substances Act since 1971.
Schedule one is the highest restriction placed on drugs. It prevents the use of that drug in medicine and can make scientific studies on the drug difficult, though the Drug Enforcement Agency has loosened restrictions on research in recent years.
Other states have started to experiment with changing the status quo around hallucinogens.
Oregon legalized therapeutic psilocybin in 2020, and Colorado decriminalized the drug in 2022.
“The failed war on drugs has led to devastating consequences for people across the nation,” said the legislators. “The criminalization of certain substances has not only left countless people incarcerated, it also has prevented individuals from accessing natural hallucinogens that can provide relief in battling mental health problems, substance use disorder, chronic pain or other health conditions.”
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