Eliza Dushku Pushes For Psychedelics Legalization In Massachusetts - A Personal Journey, A Public Cause

Eliza Dushku, known for roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Bring It On,” is turning her focus from Hollywood to health advocacy, leveraging her personal experience with psychedelic-assisted therapy to support Ballot Question 4 in Massachusetts. As Boston 25 News reported, Dushku joined healthcare professionals on Tuesday outside the State House to campaign for the legalization and regulation of certain psychedelics.

A Journey From Hollywood To Healing

Dushku's journey into advocacy stems from her struggles with substance use and childhood trauma, which she says were profoundly alleviated through psychedelic therapy. “It changed my life,” she told Boston 25 News. “I think I spent arguably most of my life numbing and taking drugs and alcohol to continue repressing the traumatic memories.” This deep shift, she believes, can help others facing mental health challenges.

Support From Research And Family

Along with her husband, Boston real state developer Peter Palandijan, Dushku envisions Massachusetts offering regulated psychedelic therapy. They cite promising research on psychedelics' benefits for veterans and individuals with mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety, depression and addiction. “Psychedelics have the ability to drop you into the root cause of what your trauma is,” unlike many current treatments that target only symptoms,” says Dushku.

What Ballot Question 4 Proposes

If passed, Ballot Question 4 would create a state commission to oversee psychedelic use, licensing therapy centers where people 21 and older could access substances under professional supervision. Approved substances would include psilocybin, DMT, mescaline, ibogaine and psilocyn. The five-member commission would be appointed by the governor, attorney general and treasurer to set industry standards and regulations.

Concerns From Opponents

However, opponents argue that the proposed regulations may not address potential community impacts adequately. "If this were to pass the way this ballot question is written, all 351 cities and towns would have to allow these facilities into their communities," said Chris Keohan, spokesperson for the Coalition for Safe Communities. Opponents say they worry about risks associated with home cultivation and potential cost barriers to accessing legal products.

Massachusetts At A Crossroads

If the measure passes, Massachusetts would join Oregon and Colorado as states allowing specific psychedelics. Dushku and proponents of Ballot Question 4 say they hope that, with state oversight, psychedelic therapy can become a viable option for people struggling with profound mental health challenges.

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