By Bob Katzen

Would establish a pilot program under the Department of Public Health, to explore the use of psychedelics in mental health care.

The proposal authorizes a maximum of three specialized mental health clinics, excluding any tied to the cannabis industry, psychedelic development or pharmaceutical companies, to use psychedelics under strict supervision. Participating clinics are tasked with reporting patient outcomes to contribute to the development of refined treatment protocols and regulatory frameworks for psychedelic use in mental health care.

“Last session, I served as co-chair of the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, where we heard heartfelt and compelling testimony from veterans, first responders and others with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, who have used psychedelic treatment to address their trauma,” said sponsor Sen. Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington). “These advocates were in support of 2024’s Question 4, a broad measure that would have allowed people to possess, use and even grow their own psychedelics in the commonwealth, which was soundly rejected by voters. Given the developing nature of psychedelic treatment, I believe my legislation establishing a supervised pilot program would provide us with the opportunity to take a measured approach in evaluating the effectiveness of this treatment, while also allowing residents with significant mental health challenges to access an alternative form of treatment if they choose.”