News & Insights
2024 Psychedelics Policy Outlook
Despite decades of prohibition, psychedelic policy reform has taken off over the past five years. In the United States, at least 28 municipalities have passed local decriminalization (i.e., deprioritization of law enforcement) measures, two states have adopted regulated access models for psilocybin, at least initially, and a sprinkling of states have begun to consider decriminalization for small amounts of certain psychedelics or have enacted reduced penalty statutes applicable to limited, personal use. In 2023 alone, eight localities passed decriminalization initiatives and at least a dozen states introduced psychedelics-focused legislation. Several states have also adopted laws requiring the establishment of working groups to study the potential medical uses of psychedelics and/or have designated funds for academic institutions and other organizations to engage in psychedelic research. For example, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, and Washington all passed legislation establishing committees to study psychedelics further in 2023. In other states, proposed legislation continues to face resistance and has been unsuccessful.
Feldman Legal Advisors’ Courtney Barnes, Esq. Advocates for Psilocybin Decriminalization in Connecticut
Courtney Barnes, Esq. was one of the policy reform activists who testified at the Psilocybin Decriminalization Forum that took place at the Connecticut Capitol last week. Organized by Last Prisoner Project, over a dozen therapists, researchers, attorneys, and advocates came together to speak about the value of psilocybin from both a mental health and economic perspective. The event marks the first psilocybin decriminalization informational forum of the 2024 legislative season.
Ohio Legalizes Cannabis for Adult-Use
On November 7, 2023, Ohio voters passed a ballot measure to legalize adult-use cannabis, making it the 24th state to embrace legalization outside of medical use. The law passed easily with an estimated 56.79% vote (i.e., 2.144 million voters out of the 3.8 million who cast ballots). The law will take effect on December 7, 2023.