Mass House passed psychedelic therapy legislation as part of major spending bill
On Wednesday, “the Massachusetts House passed legislation establishing a psychedelic therapy pilot program as part of a major spending bill.” According to Mass Healing, the local grassroots organization leading psychedelic reform in the commonwealth, “supportive lawmakers and advocates, including the, anticipate the policy to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by Governor Maura Healey.”
More from Mass Healing below:
The policy combines elements of several psychedelics proposals introduced earlier this legislative session and favorably reported out of committee, specifically: H.4200 presented by Representative James (Jim) O’Day, S.1400 presented by Senator Cindy Friedman, H.2203 presented by Representative Marjorie Decker, and H.2532 presented by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa, all of which were unanimously supported by witnesses at public hearings. Nearly two dozen advocates—including doctors, veterans, and first responders, organized by Mass Healing—testified in support of H.4200 and H.2203 at a hearing last year.
Since the failure of the 2024 psychedelics ballot measure campaign, Mass Healing has been building a growing coalition to advance mental health treatment using psychedelic substances in Massachusetts and its leaders helped introduce a record breaking number of psychedelic bills this legislative session. National nonprofit Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) and local philanthropists Eliza and Peter Palandjian became highly involved after the advancement of H.4200/S.1400, and have been instrumental in advancing the current policy, with input and support from other stakeholders such as researcher Dr. Franklin King and national nonprofit veteran clinic Home Base.
Jamie Morey, co-founder and Executive Director of Mass Healing, said in a statement: “Mass Healing was born from the ashes of the failed 2024 psychedelic ballot question and fueled by my passion as a mother on a mission to keep fighting for legal access to psychedelic healing for my own family and others across Massachusetts. The House’s passage of this bill is a victory for everyone affected by PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, addiction, and other serious mental and physical health conditions who urgently need new treatment options.”
Mass Healing Educational Outreach Director Graham Moore added: “This is a triumph for a new kind of politics in the psychedelics movement, built on integrity, compromise, and mutual, earned trust among grassroots advocates, lawmakers, scientific researchers, national organizations, and philanthropists. At the beginning of this legislative session, the psychedelic movement was operating with a trust deficit in Massachusetts because of catastrophic mismanagement. This victory was possible only through responsible leadership: unafraid to confront bad actors, admit mistakes, and operate dynamically.” –
“Looking to the future, Mass Healing will work with stakeholders to steward the implementation of a psychedelic pilot program in Massachusetts—with a priority on equitable access—as well as to introduce new legislation in the upcoming legislative session to address outstanding concerns.”
Check out our event with Mass Healing next Thursday at Quincy Cannabis Co.
