California Bill AB 941 - Controlled Substances: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
California Assembly Bill 941 (AB 941), introduced by Assembly Member Waldron, focuses on establishing a framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly targeting mental health treatment for combat veterans suffering from conditions like PTSD, depression, and addiction. The bill mandates the California Health and Human Services Agency to create a workgroup to research and recommend how such therapy could be regulated. It includes substances like psilocybin and ibogaine, with the goal of creating a therapeutic access program similar to Oregon's regulated psilocybin therapy system. The workgroup's recommendations are expected by January 1, 2026, and implementation will proceed only after legislative approval of the framework.
Purpose:
AB 941 seeks to establish a framework for psychedelic-assisted therapy in California, particularly targeting combat veterans with conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The bill aims to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelic compounds in a controlled, clinical setting.
Key Provisions:
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Workgroup Formation: The California Health and Human Services Agency is tasked with forming a workgroup to study and make recommendations on psychedelic-assisted therapy. This group will include experts in medicine, public health, drug policy, indigenous use of psychedelics, law enforcement, and veterans' groups.
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Substances Covered: The workgroup will focus on substances such as psilocybin, ibogaine, and potentially other controlled substances approved by the FDA in the future, including dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline sourced from non-peyote cacti.
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Veteran Focus: The bill specifically targets combat veterans, defining them as veterans who served in combat roles or special operations forces. The goal is to address the mental health challenges prevalent in this group using psychedelic-assisted therapy.
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Therapy Framework: The workgroup is responsible for studying various aspects such as safety, efficacy, regulatory models, and educational campaigns regarding psychedelic use. They will also explore the impact of decriminalization and the development of training and credentialing programs for therapists.
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Implementation: The bill delays the actual implementation of psychedelic-assisted therapy until a comprehensive framework is developed, legislated, and adopted by the California Legislature. The report with recommendations is due by January 1, 2026, and the bill is set to be repealed on January 1, 2027, if not extended.
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Decriminalization Clause: Following the adoption of the framework, the bill proposes the decriminalization of psychedelic substances for therapeutic use, emphasizing the need for lawful, supervised medical settings.
Legislative Intent:
The bill is inspired by similar initiatives in other states, notably Oregon, where psilocybin therapy has been regulated. It acknowledges the potential mental health benefits of psychedelics and seeks to establish California as a leader in psychedelic therapy for veterans.
This bill represents a significant step toward integrating alternative therapies into mainstream mental health treatment, particularly for those who have served in the military and face severe psychological challenges.
