Oklahoma Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Psychedelic Mushroom Research

A bill allowing for the study of psychedelic mushrooms is headed to the Senate for consideration. This treatment is widely known as magic mushrooms: lawmakers explain the hallucinogenic properties would be aimed at treating conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

The actual drugs in question are psilocybin and psilocin- the psychoactive compound in mushrooms. Psilocybin is thought to disrupt negative, repetitive depressive thoughts by acting on the part of the brain that produces serotonin, a chemical that regulates mood.

“It’s directly impacting any negative, addictive thoughts and patterns specifically,” explained Rep. Daniel Pae, (R) Lawton.

While the drug is illegal in the state- legislators are hoping to test the potential benefits. Author of House Bill 2017 Daniel Pae explains psilocybin essentially fast-tracks symptom relief and has the potential to relieve the symptoms of depression for up to a year after just 1 or 2 treatments.

“It is a schedule 1 drug at the federal level, however, the FDA has designated the drug to treat depression as breakthrough therapy, meaning they are giving the approval to have those studies,” said Rep. Pae.

Representative Pae says this could be lifesaving for veterans in the state.

“I believe the research that has been done already has tremendous therapeutic benefits when it comes to things like treating ptsd depression and anxiety,” Rep. Pae said.

Some argued that similar research is being conducted over the border in Texas, and that we should not be using our funds for this type of research.

“Oklahoma has a population that's different from our friends in Texas. We have a tremendous number of military installations, hence more veterans. I believe strongly that this is going to help them,” said Rep. Pae.

House Bill 2107 allows universities, institutions of higher education and research facilities in Oklahoma to conduct research on psilocybin and psilocin for the treatment of certain ailments. 

“I want us to make sure we're at the decision making table, having this nationwide conversation because again; this is about research, this is about saving lives and this is about addressing the mental health crisis impacting our nation and our state right now,” said Rep. Pae.

The bill requires an oversight board and a limited scope for the program. Rep. Pae explains that this trial would be conducted in a controlled environment where the patients would get microdosing of the drug.

Similar legislation last year didn’t make it through session, dying in the Senate. This bill is now headed over to the Senate for consideration.