News & Insights
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.
Australia Authorizes Therapeutic Access to MDMA and Psilocybin
On February 3, 2023, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (ATGA), a medical authority under the Department of Health and Aged Care, announced a change to the country’s regulatory classification of psilocybin and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), allowing the compounds to be prescribed by psychiatrists for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), respectively. The decision was made after the government determined that there was sufficient medical and scientific evidence to support the conclusion that the substances will be beneficial for these conditions. This dramatic change makes Australia the first major country to legalize the therapeutic use of these substances.