1. New Yorkers are suffering

- More than 1 in 5 New Yorkers have symptoms of a mental disorder [1] , and every year we lose more

than 10,000 New Yorkers to alcohol, drug overdose, and suicide [2] . The disease burden or total cost

of mental illness exceeds that caused by all cancers [1] .

- Furthermore, 1 in 5 New Yorkers live with chronic pain [3] , and chronic pain is the leading cause of

disability in America [4] .

- Traditional approaches to these conditions aren’t working for many people.

2. Psilocybin and other psychedelic substances are therapeutic / can help

- Psychedelics are psychoactive substances that cause altered states of consciousness. They

allow people to see themselves, others, and the world in a completely different light, and have

profound realizations about their lives.

- These experiences, especially when combined with proper preparation before and integration

after, can have a powerful and lasting therapeutic effect.

- Some psychedelics are naturally occurring (psilocybin, mescaline, DMT, ayahuasca, ibogaine,

etc.). Other psychedelics are chemically synthesized in labs (ketamine, MDMA, LSD, analogs

created by pharmaceutical companies, etc.).

- Research from NYU, Yale, John Hopkins, Imperial College London, and many other top

universities show remarkable effects of these substances on a wide range of conditions, including

depression [5] , anxiety, suicidality [6] , PTSD in veterans and survivors of sexual abuse [7] , alcohol,

tobacco, and opioid addiction [8] , end-of-life anxiety, COVID-related burnout in frontline healthcare

workers [9] , as well as debilitating migraine and cluster headaches [10] .

- Psilocybin and other naturally occurring psychedelics have been used in the sacred rites of many

indigenous groups around the world for centuries [11] or even millennia [12] , with some of these

groups continuing their traditional usage today [13] .

3. Psilocybin and other psychedelic substances are safe

- Psychedelics are powerful substances and should be used wisely and carefully. That said, the

benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

- Compared to all other drugs, psilocybin use results in the lowest number of emergency room

visits and hospitalizations [14] .

- Compared to pharmaceuticals (like SSRIs or benzodiazepines), psychedelics have far fewer

negative side effects and many more positive side effects for most people who take them.

4. Support for psychedelics is growing and other cities/states are taking action

- 28% of American adults have used a psychedelic substance, with 13% having tried psilocybin [15] .

Since 2015, the percentage of American adults that have used a hallucinogen in the past year

has grown by 44% [16] . Polling shows that psilocybin is the psychedelic substance that Americans

are most in favor of decriminalizing [17] .

- Fifteen cities across the country, including Denver, Washington DC and Detroit have passed laws

decriminalizing the possession, use and sharing of psychedelics and/or deprioritizing

psychedelics for local law enforcement [18] .

- Oregon and Colorado voters have passed ballot initiatives decriminalizing psychedelics and

creating clinics throughout the states where patients can access Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

with psilocybin for an unrestricted range of conditions [19, 20] . Connecticut passed a law expanding

access to psilocybin and MDMA for first responders, veterans and frontline health workers [21] .

Texas passed a bill supporting the study of psychedelics for veterans suffering from PTSD [22] .

- The FDA has recognized psilocybin and MDMA as breakthrough medicines with a faster track to

review and approval, which is expected in the next few years [23] .

- In Congress, there is a bipartisan Psychedelic Caucus [24] dedicated to better understanding of

psychedelics therapy, and a bipartisan bill by Senators Rand Paul and Cory Booker [25] to

reschedule and expand access to these breakthrough therapies.

- This year: So far, there are almost 40 proposed psychedelic bills in 14 states around the

country [26] . Analysts predict that multiple states will pass legislation that expands research on

psychedelics and makes them more available to people who are suffering.

5. New York is taking action

There are four pieces of legislation that would address the problems cited above in New York State, and

we urge lawmakers to support them.

A.10375 (Paulin) would allow the growth, cultivation, and adult use of psilocybin for the treatment of certain health conditions. Would also allow for the training and certification of facilitators for psychedelic experiences. Creates a licensed cultivator structure.

A.3520 (Burke)/S.3581 (Fernandez) would create a therapeutic access program, where New Yorkers will be able to use psilocybin for a wide range of conditions, overseen by trained

experts.

A.8349/S.7832(Burke/Fernandez) would establish the psilocybin assisted therapy pilot program; provides such program will be offered to ten thousand veterans and first responders from the western region of New York State.

A.114 (Rosenthal) would decriminalize possessing/using, growing/cultivating, or gifting/sharing naturally occurring psychedelics.

No one should go to jail because they are trying to heal.  

________________________________________

[1] New York: Priority Area: Mental Health/Substance Abuse - Mental Health

https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/prevention_agenda/mental_health_and_substance_abuse/mental

_health.htm

[2] Trust for America’s Health: U.S. Experienced Highest Ever Combined Rates of Deaths Due to

Alcohol, Drugs, and Suicide During the COVID-19 Pandemic

https://www.tfah.org/article/u-s-experienced-highest-ever-combined-rates-of-deaths-due-to-alcohol-

drugs-and-suicide-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

[3] NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Defining the Prevalence of Chronic

Pain in the United States

https://www.nccih.nih.gov/research/research-results/defining-the-prevalence-of-chronic-pain-in-the-

united-states

[4] NIH: Pain and Disability: Clinical, Behavioral, and Public Policy Perspectives

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219253/

[5] Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J., Day, C. M. J., Erritzoe, D., Kaelen, M., et al. (2016).

Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: an open-label feasibility study.

Lancet Psychiatry, 3, 619–627. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-7

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Day, C., Rucker, J., Watts, R., Erritzoe, D. E., et al. (2018).

Psilocybin with psychological support for treatment-resistant depression: six-month follow-up.

Psychopharmacology, 235, 399–408. doi: 10.1007/s00213-017-4771-x

Carhart-Harris, R., Giribaldi, B., Watts, R., Baker-Jones, M., Murphy-Beiner, A., Murphy, R., et al.

(2021). Trial of psilocybin versus escitalopram for depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 384,

1402–1411. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa2032994

COMPASS (2021). COMP360 Psilocybin Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression: Phase IIb

Results. Available online at: https://compasspathways.com/positive-topline-results/

Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., et al. (2021).

Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA

Psychiatry 78, 481–489. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285

[6] Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., May, D. G., Cosimano, M. P., Sepeda, N. D., Johnson, M. W., et al.

(2021). Effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on major depressive disorder: A randomized clinical trial.

JAMA Psychiatry 78, 481–489. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285

[7] Henner, R. L., Keshavan, M. S., & Hill, K. P. (2022). Review of potential psychedelic treatments for

PTSD. Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 439, 120302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2022.120302

[8] Bogenschutz, M. P., Forcehimes, A. A., Pommy, J. A., Wilcox, C. E., Barbosa, P., & Strassman, R.

J. (2015). Psilocybin-assisted treatment for alcohol dependence: A proof-of-concept study. Journal of

Psychopharmacology, 29, 289–299. doi:10.1177/0269881114565144

Bogenschutz, M. P., Ross, S., Bhatt, S., Baron, T., Forcehimes, A. A., Laska, E., Mennenga, S. E.,

O'Donnell, K., Owens, L. T., Podrebarac, S., Rotrosen, J., Tonigan, J. S., & Worth, L. (2022).

Percentage of heavy drinking days following psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy vs placebo in the

treatment of adult patients with alcohol use disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry,

79(10), 953–962. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2096

Johnson, M. W., Garcia-Romeu, A., Cosimano, M. P., and Griffiths, R. R. (2014). Pilot study of the 5-

HT2AR agonist psilocybin in the treatment of tobacco addiction. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 28,

983–992. doi: 10.1177/0269881114548296

[9] Back, A. (2021, December - ). Frontline Clinician Psilocybin Study. Identifier NCT05163496.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05163496

[10] Di Lorenzo, C., Coppola, G., Di Lorenzo, G., Bracaglia, M., Pierelli, F., & Rossi, P. (2016). The use

of illicit drugs as self-medication in the treatment of cluster headache: Results from an Italian online

survey. Cephalalgia, 36(2), 194-198–198. DOI: 10.1177/0333102415583145

Schindler, E., Sewell, R. A., Gottschalk, C. H., Luddy, C., Flynn, L. T., Lindsey, H., Pittman, B. P.,

Cozzi, N. V., & D'Souza, D. C. (2021). Exploratory controlled study of the migraine-suppressing effects

of psilocybin. Neurotherapeutics : The Journal of the American Society for Experimental

NeuroTherapeutics, 18(1), 534–543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-020-00962-y

[11] Furst, P. (1982). Flesh of the gods: The ritual use of hallucinogens. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland

Press.

González, M. J. M., & Sosa, C. P. E. (2022). Insights for modern applications of psilocybin therapy from

a case study of traditional Mazatec medicine. Anthropology of Consciousness, 1. https://doi-

org.avoserv2.library.fordham.edu/10.1111/anoc.12168

[12] Samorini, G. (1992). The oldest representations of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the world.

Integration, 2/3, 69-78.

[13] Gerber, K., Flores, I. G., Ruiz, A. C., Ali, I., Ginsberg, N. L., & Schenberg, E. E. (2021). Ethical

concerns about psilocybin intellectual property. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 4(2),

573–577. https://doi-org.avoserv2.library.fordham.edu/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00171

González, M. J. M., & Sosa, C. P. E. (2022). Insights for modern applications of psilocybin therapy from

a case study of traditional Mazatec medicine. Anthropology of Consciousness, 1. https://doi-

org.avoserv2.library.fordham.edu/10.1111/anoc.12168

[14] Global Drug Survey. Global Drug Survey Brochure. https://www.globaldrugsurvey.com/wp-

content/themes/globaldrugsurvey/results/GDS2017_key-findings-report_final.pdf. Published 2017.

Leonard, J. B., Anderson, B., & Klein-Schwartz, W. (2018). Does getting high hurt? Characterization of

cases of LSD and psilocybin-containing mushroom exposures to national poison centers between 2000

and 2016. Journal of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England), 32(12), 1286–1294.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0269881118793086

[15] Orth, T. (2022, July 28). One in four Americans say they’ve tried at least one psychedelic drug.

YouGov America. https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/07/28/one-in-four-

americans-have-tried-psychedelic-drugs

[16] Livne, O., Shmulewitz, D., Walsh, C., & Hasin, D. S. (2022). Adolescent and adult time trends in

US hallucinogen use, 2002–19: Any use, and use of ecstasy, LSD and PCP. Addiction, 1– 11.

https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15987

[17] Orth, T. (2022, July 28). One in four Americans say they’ve tried at least one psychedelic drug.

YouGov America. https://today.yougov.com/topics/society/articles-reports/2022/07/28/one-in-four-

americans-have-tried-psychedelic-drugs

[18] Psychedelic Alpha. (n.d.). Psychedelic legalization and decriminalization tracker.

https://psychedelicalpha.com/data/psychedelic-laws

[19] AP News: Oregon voters approve ‘magic’ mushrooms for therapeutic use

https://apnews.com/article/oregon-ballot-drug-measures-senate-5cb7b67f09908157f0d28618c8743d43

[20] Woodruff, C. (2022, October 17). Colorado voters asked to legalize psychedelic mushrooms.

Colorado Newsline. https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/10/17/proposition-122-colorado-voters-

mushrooms/

[21] Fenster, J. N. (2022, May 11). New CT law pave the way for widespread psychedelic therapy. CT

Insider. https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/New-CT-law-paves-way-for-widespread-psychedelic-

17165230.php

[22] Cutler, J. E. (2021, June 23). Texas the latest state to legalize psychedelic medical research.

Bloomberg Law. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/texas-the-latest-state-to-

legalize-psychedelic-medical-research

[23] Oprah Daily: 6 Things You Need to Know About Psychedelics

https://www.oprahdaily.com/life/health/a42434941/what-to-know-about-psychedelics/

[24] Marijuana Moment: Bipartisan Lawmakers Form New Psychedelics Caucus In Congress

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/bipartisan-lawmakers-form-new-psychedelics-caucus-in-congress/

[25] Marijuana Moment: Cory Booker And Rand Paul File Bill To Reschedule Psychedelic Breakthrough

Therapies And Remove Research Barriers

https://www.marijuanamoment.net/cory-booker-and-rand-paul-file-bill-to-reschedule-psychedelic-

breakthrough-therapies-and-remove-research-barriers/

[26] Psychedelic Vote. https://psychedelicvote.org/bills