Texas Senate Approves Psychedelic Research Legislation Aimed at Military Veterans
Policy
Texas has moved closer to legal psychedelic research for PTSD military veterans after the state senate approved the legislation.
In a bold display of progress, Texas legislators have introduced three new bills to advance the cause for psychedelic policy reform.
Psychedelic research has been a hot topic for state governments in 2023. While most might see psychedelics (and larger drug decriminalization efforts) as an issue being led by Democratic representatives, the issue has actually seen a lot of bipartisan discourse and agreement.
In a remarkable show of commitment to psychedelic policy reform, Texas lawmakers have presented three new bills in the state legislature.
Texas initially launched efforts into state-sponsored psychedelic research in 2021 with a bill focused on medical use for military veterans. The bill was allowed to come into law without the Governor’s signature and mentioned that the state of Texas will be required to study the medical risks and benefits of psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine and a military-focused medical center.
It also mandated a clinical trial into psilocybin for veterans with PTSD, in addition to a broader review of the scientific literature on all three substances.
“Psychedelic medicine has the potential to completely change society’s approach to mental health treatment, and research is the first step to realizing that transformation,” Rep. Alex Dominguez (D), sponsor of the legislation.
As Texas democrats and republicans now share similar goals in the psychedelic research and policy spaces, it will be very interesting to see how the state positions itself with regards to psychedelic accessibility, regulations, and law enforcement.
Catch up with other psychedelic reform bills: More and more psychedelic reform bills are in the pipeline throughout the United States.
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