California's Reform Update: Ballot Initiative Calls For $5B In Research, Legal Psilocybin Campaign On Track, And Local Moves

$5B For Research Accelerating Federal Legalization

The Californians for Treatments, Research, Education, Access and Therapies (TREAT) for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Cures officially filed a proposal creating a $5 billion state agency to fund and promote psychedelics research to the state’s attorney general for its potential inclusion in the 2024 ballot this July 19.

“TREAT California is not a direct decriminalization or legalization effort; and it is not an initiative driven by an elected official,” it reads. “Rather, it is a path for citizens to authorize legislative change.”

First spotted in Marijuana Moment, the new agency will accelerate federal legalization of certain psychedelics through identifying and “consistently” and “sustainably” funding opportunities for advancing science into their therapeutic potential for serious mental health conditions.

The agency would also eventually facilitate new state “care programs” for psilocybin and MDMA therapies once federally approved.

“With FDA approval, these medicines could be rescheduled and become eligible for coverage by health insurance; thereby achieving legalization for therapeutic use and access,” it says.

Revenue bonds would provide the agency an annual funding of $500 million throughout ten years, to be made available to researchers via grants and loans in exchange for IP rights from the new discoveries.

A public comment period is open through Aug. 18. The campaign will then have five days to execute changes and resubmit the measure. 

Following which, the attorney general will have 30 days to write the ballot title, summary and question and, after the clearance, the campaigners will have 180 days to get a minimum 874,641 valid signatures from registered voters for the proposal to qualify for the next ballot.

Decriminalize California Collects Signatures

On July 14, the state’s attorney general office cleared Decriminalize California’s psilocybin legalization campaign, meaning the famed nonprofit can begin collecting signatures for the initiative to be included in the 2024 ballot.

Adults over 21 would be entitled to possess (unlimited) cultivate and for-profit sell psilocybin in social settings and consume it on-site. “Qualified healthcare practitioners” would be allowed to use the psychedelic for research, treatment and therapy within a state-regulated framework.

The measure had aimed for the general poll twice previously -2020 and 2022,- and this time might hold higher chances considering the signature threshold required is lower due to reduced turnout in the last general election, reported Marijuana Moment.

Decriminalize California would need to collect a minimum of 546,651 valid signatures from registered voters before next Jan. 10.

The state’s legislature is currently discussing the approval of a bill that would legalize adult possession and facilitate the use of certain entheogens. The measure has passed the Senate and is now facing several Assembly committees.

SB’s District 216 City Campaign

Meanwhile, Santa Barbara’s psychedelic social club District 216 is pushing for the local decriminalization of possession and use of natural hallucinogens.

Entheogens researcher and co-founder of Decriminalize Nature [more here] Larry Norris has helped California cities like Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Cruz in their decriminalizing efforts, and is now doing so with Santa Barbara.

The organization’s entheogens decriminalization petition has reportedly collected around 500 signatures so far. Founder Jacob Tell told The Independent that the next step is “to win over city council members.” 

They’ve already spoken with two out of seven, with both Mike Jordan and Oscar Gutierrez responding positively. Tell says their aim is to get four of the Council members on board, and hope for the council’s approval within the next six to 12 months.

Benzinga is all in for psychedelics and cannabis. Our upcoming 17th CCC edition will take place in Chicago, Sept 27-28. 

This is the place to get DEALS DONE. So join us by getting your tickets today, before prices increase. Secure yourself a spot at the EPICENTER of cannabis investment and branding!

Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by Serrgey75 and fizkes on Shutterstock.