Hawaii Moves One Step Closer To Creating A Therapeutic Psilocybin Working Group

Hawaii has joined the growing roster of states moving towards unprecedented psychedelic reform, an emerging trend amongst legislators looking for alternative approaches to address mental health concerns.

The Aloha State's Senate Committee recently approved a bill to form a “therapeutic psilocybin working group”, an endeavor that is sure to revolutionize medicinal practices and bring about ground-breaking breakthroughs in healthcare.

On Monday, Senator Ron Kouchi’s (D) Senate Bill 1454 was unanimously approved by the Senate Health Committee.

SB 1454

Should this bill be passed, it would form a “therapeutic psilocybin working group” which should:

1. Investigate the potential medicinal and therapeutic advantages of psilocybin or its derivatives in relation to mental health, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and distress at the end-of-life.
2. Analyze the usefulness of psilocybin and related products in treating mental health disorders within Oregon and Colorado, which have both legalized medicinal psilocybin;
3. Ensure the safe and accessible availability of reasonably priced, therapeutic psilocybin or related products for adults twenty-one years of age or older in the long—term, a detailed strategic plan must be established.

What we need to know about the psilocybin working group

According to the bill, the working group will need to carefully consider federal, state, and local legislation on the therapeutic use of psilocybin.

Additionally, they should assess medical studies as well as psychological and scientific research to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of psilocybin-based products in ameliorating mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety or end-of life distress.

They would also need to research and analyze existing laws, requirements, and guidelines in areas where psilocybin or psilocybin-based products are legally used to treat mental health conditions.

This isn't the only bill though…

It's companion, HB 1337, sponsored by Rep. Amy Perruso (D), also requests to establish a “Therapeutic Psilocybin Working Group“.

HB 1337

Realizing the negative impact of untreated and neglected mental health, especially in Hawaii's population, due to a lack of resources and limited access to proper care, this resolution stresses that it is imperative for the State to look into creative solutions promptly. By doing so they can ensure lasting treatment options are put in place as soon as possible.

The legislature further finds that psilocybin has been found to be very effective in treating a variety of mental health conditions, including but not limited to post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life psychological distress.

To top off the list of proposed measures, we have HB 1340, filed by Rep. Adrian Tam (D).

This proposed legislation seeks to create a “Beneficial Treatments Advisory Council” that would assess, evaluate and recommend new medicinal treatments for mental health issues such as psilocybin and MDMA.

This measure is nearly identical to the Senate bill from Kouchi, except that the advisory council would need to explore the laws, science and possible therapeutic use of MDMA in addition to psilocybin.

With this major step taken forward towards comprehensive medical advancement, there is much hope for improved quality of life among many individuals around the world.