Politics

MAPS PBC announces new American Medical Association CPT III codes for psychedelic-assisted therapies take effect

MAPS PBC [Public Benefit Corporation] and COMPASS Pathways collaborated to work with the AMA [American Medical Association] to create these new CPT III codes.  These are temporary codes assigned to emerging technologies, services and procedures, to facilitate reimbursement and support access to psychedelic therapies in the United States, if such therapies receive regulatory approval by the…

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Politics

In Southern Oregon, illegal cannabis has overwhelmed the legal industry

Next year marks the 10th anniversary of legalizing the cultivation and sale of recreational cannabis in Oregon.  Economist Beau Whitney estimates 1 million pounds of dried pot were grown legally this year in Oregon. But Whitney estimates another 3.1 million pounds of illegally grown Oregon cannabis will be diverted across state lines. By Whitney’s calculations,…

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Politics

Biden signs defense spending bill funding psychedelic research

President Joseph Biden… signed a defense spending bill that funds clinical trials researching psychedelic drugs to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries experienced by active-duty members of the U.S. military. The president signed the legislation, known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)… after the bill was approved by Congress earlier this month…

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Politics

State officials consider manure in magic mushrooms

“A lot of the vegetables that people eat is grown on manure, so I’m not sure how this would be any different,” Mason Marks said during the December 10 [2023] hearing, noting that substrate alternatives such as coco coir are “often mined in environmentally irresponsible ways.” Manure is typically cheaper than other substrates and promotes…

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Politics

Provincetown, MA, Select Board backs reducing arrests for psilocybin… with 3-1-1 vote

The Provincetown Select Board voted to approve a resolution… that instructs police officers to deprioritize cases involving psilocybin, and calls for statewide decriminalization and for the Cape & Islands District Attorney to cease prosecution of people possessing, cultivating or distributing psychedelic plants. Provincetown joins Somerville, Cambridge, Northampton, Easthampton and Salem, where elected officials have passed resolutions directing their…

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Politics

Colorado SB23-290

The Personal Use section of Proposition 122 was a hallmark of the NMHA. The personal use provisions of the NMHA… several types of natural medicine, namely psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline (excluding peyote). SB23-290… a police officer is not allowed to arrest nor is the district attorney allowed to prosecute a person for…

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Politics

FDA weighs new application to approve MDMA as first-ever psychedelic medicine for PTSD

The MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) announced on Tuesday [12/12/23] that it submitted the new drug application (NDA) to FDA, requesting an expedited review given that the agency previously designated the psychedelic as a breakthrough therapy. If the NDA is ultimately approved, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would then need to reschedule MDMA accordingly.…

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Politics

California campaign… psychedelics submits final version of proposed 2024 ballot measure

While adults would be allowed to legally grow, possess and use substances like psilocybin, LSD, MDMA, DMT, ibogaine and mescaline under the measure, they would need physician recommendations to purchase the psychedelics at regulated stores. Cultivation on private property of psychedelic plants and fungi would be legal provided it’s done out of public view and…

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Politics

State-regulated psychedelics on a collision course with FDA

Outside narrow exceptions for research, the production, possession, and sale of psychedelics are federal felonies. Consequently, state-licensed psychedelic businesses violate federal law when producing or dispensing psilocybin… In Oregon… some businesses ignore these restrictions and advertise their services as treatments for depression or addiction… In October 2023, the FDA issued a warning about off-label prescribing…

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