How the Bill Works
This bill is designed to create regulated access that maximizes safety to natural psychedelic medicines for veterans struggling with PTSD, people facing a terminal illness, and adults dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do psilocybin therapies work?
Psilocybin therapies work differently from traditional mental health medications, which often need to be taken daily and can have side effects. In contrast, psilocybin is typically administered in a controlled environment, only a few times a year. Under the Adapt Bill Legislative Action, adults 21 and older will be able to access psilocybin under the supervision of a licensed facilitator at designated locations.
What does the research say about Psilocybin and other natural medicines?
Leading research from prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU indicates that psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies can be highly effective for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The FDA has recognized psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy” for treating depression, signaling its potential to offer significant improvements compared to existing treatments.
Who will this legislation help?
Studies show that psilocybin can be beneficial for veterans struggling with PTSD, patients with terminal illnesses, and individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. The Adapt Bill Legislative Action will create access to psilocybin services for any adult 21 and older, offering hope and healing where other treatments may have failed.
Will this legislation allow the recreational use of psilocybin?
NO! The Adapt Bill Legislative Action establishes a therapeutic program for the supervised use of psilocybin by licensed facilitators. It does not create a commercial market or permit the recreational sale of psilocybin or other natural medicines.
How will the legislation work?
The Adapt Bill Legislative Action will establish a regulated system for safe and supervised access to psilocybin. The law requires the Washington Department of Health to oversee the program, ensuring that psilocybin administration occurs in licensed service centers or other approved locations. The program includes stringent training requirements for facilitators, including extensive hands-on training and supervision.
How would Washingtonians be able to access psilocybin?
Under the Adapt Bill Legislative Action, adults 21 and older can access psilocybin through a state-regulated system designed to ensure safe and facilitated use. Psilocybin sessions will take place at licensed healing centers, healthcare facilities, or other approved locations, always under the guidance of a trained facilitator
Would the proposal change criminalization of psilocybin?
The Adapt Bill Legislative Action allows for the legal use of psilocybin within Washington State under clinical supervision.
What is the full text of the ADAPT Bill Legislative Action?
While there is not a current bill in the WA Senate, here is a Senate bill from 2022 which will be a starting point for a new bill with changes.
When will Washingtonians be able to benefit from this legislation?
The implementation period for the Adapt Bill Legislative Action is dependent upon its success in moving forward in the next legislative session. The Department of Health will guide the implementation based upon the outcome of the session.
What is the connection of psilocybin and other natural medicines to Indigenous cultures?
Natural medicines, including psilocybin, have been used for thousands of years by Indigenous cultures for healing, ceremonies, and religious practices. These practices are deeply rooted in traditions that honor the sacred nature of these substances, and today, they continue to play a vital role in many communities worldwide.
Safety-Oriented and Regulated
This bill aims to establish regulated access to natural psychedelic medicines for veterans with PTSD, individuals with terminal illnesses, and adults facing depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues, with a strong emphasis on safety. Adults aged 21 and older will have the opportunity to use these research-supported psychedelic treatments under the supervision of licensed facilitators, at approved healing centers, and healthcare facilities such as palliative care settings.
Supported by Research
Natural psychedelic medicines are non-addictive and offer significant benefits for individuals coping with difficult mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as for those seeking peace in their final stages of life. Leading institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, NYU, and others have conducted research on psychedelic therapies. The FDA has awarded psilocybin, a natural psychedelic, “breakthrough therapy” status due to its success in treating depression that has been resistant to other treatments, demonstrating its effectiveness where other approaches have not worked.
Justice-Focused
The drug war has been based in racism and classism, and with legal psilocybin—more alternatives will exist for those who have been victims of historical trauma, to find healing. This bill will establish regulated opportunities for specialized groups, with specific needs, to receive healing (such as Veterans, the disabled, and victims of trauma).