Nevada Governor Passes Psychedelics Bill To Form New Working Group And Future Regulated Access

Nevada’s Governor Joe Lombardo (R), green-lighted legislation creating a psychedelics study group toward planned and regulated therapeutic access one week after it received final approval from the Assembly after having first passed the Senate, reported Marijuana Moment.

See also: Nevada Lawmakers Approve Comprehensive Cannabis Reform Bill, Awaits Governor's Signature

Originally, SB 242 aimed to legalize psilocybin and promote research around it as well as on the other “breakthrough therapy,” MDMA yet during the approval process the bill was significantly scaled back to the formation of a 15-member working group to study psychedelics for medical, therapeutic and “improved wellness” purposes.

Established under the state’s HHS Department, the new group will focus on psilocybin and psilocin research for overall wellness and specific conditions including PTSD, Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD,) as well as for palliative care.

See also: Washington State Psychedelics Trial Targets PTSD And Alcohol Use Disorder, Mandated By Law

The working body will be tasked with studying federal, state and local psychedelics laws toward developing its own “actionable plan” enabling the use of “safe, accessible and affordable” therapeutic entheogens and compounds in Nevada.

With a report on the findings expected by Dec. 31, 2024, the 15 member positions will be partly filled by the state attorney general, the HHS director, the veterans services’ director and the Nevada Board of Pharmacology’s president (or their respective designees;) and, on the other hand, four appointees by majority and minority leaders of each chamber. 

The final seven members are to be appointed by the governor, the criteria requesting inclusion of one military veteran with personal experience with psychedelics to treat PTSD, a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist with a background in treating substance misuse, a federally registered psychedelics researcher, and a Nevada tribal government representative, among others.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by Chones and Cannabis_Pic by Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons.