Will Massachusetts Follow in Oregon’s Footsteps and Legalize Psilocybin?

When decriminalization makes slow progress, local municipalities may decide to take matters into their own hands. That appears to be the case regarding the legalization of psilocybin services in Massachusetts.

On February 7, 2024, Marijuana Moment published an article that announced the eighth Massachusetts city council had decided to decriminalize psilocybin. In the City of Medford, a new legal resolution is that local law enforcement and prosecutors would be discouraged from investigating or charging anyone for: “planting, cultivating, transporting, distributing, engaging in practices with, and possessing entheogenic plants and fungi.” The city council also indicated that arrests for possession of psilocybin would be the lowest priority for law enforcement in Medford.

With a total of eight cities so far in our state that have moved toward legal reform regarding doctor-prescribed psilocybin services, will state officials also do the same? Why are so many people interested in using psilocybin for therapeutic benefits?

What Is Psilocybin Anyway?

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly known as “magic mushrooms.” It is classified as a psychedelic substance due to its ability to alter perception, mood, and cognition when it is ingested.

Magic mushrooms are the “street name” given to psilocybin, and historically, they have been used for recreational purposes. Because of the psychedelic effects of psilocybin, the illicit mushrooms have been used at raves and nightclubs, where the sounds and lighting effects may be amplified by the hallucinatory effects.

How Does Psilocybin Work?

Psilocybin acts primarily by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptor. By doing so, it modulates serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter involved in regulating mood, perception, and cognition. This interaction leads to profound changes in perception, including visual and auditory hallucinations, alterations in time perception, and changes in thinking patterns.

Patients receive a prescription for psilocybin capsules, and that is the common route of administration.

Duration of Impairment

The duration of impairment caused by psilocybin varies depending on several factors, including the dosage consumed, individual sensitivity, and environmental factors. Body weight, tolerance, and the presence of other substances can greatly reduce or amplify the effect of psilocybin.

Generally speaking, however, the acute effects of psilocybin typically last between 4 to 6 hours, with the peak effects occurring within the first 2 to 3 hours after ingestion. However, residual effects, such as changes in mood and perception, may persist for several hours after the acute effects subside.

Potential for Overdose

Psilocybin does not produce life-threatening overdose effects like some other substances, such as opioids or alcohol. However, consuming large doses of psilocybin mushrooms can lead to extremely intense and potentially overwhelming experiences, known as “bad trips.”

These experiences can include extreme anxiety, paranoia, and delusions, which may require medical intervention in severe cases. Additionally, consuming mushrooms that have been misidentified or contaminated with other toxic substances can pose serious health risks. Street-sourced “magic mushrooms” may be laced with other substances that can be harmful to health.

In summary, psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic compound found in certain mushrooms. It works by interacting with serotonin receptors in the brain, leading to alterations in perception, mood, and cognition. The duration of impairment varies but typically lasts for several hours, with residual effects potentially lasting longer.

While psilocybin does not cause life-threatening overdose effects, consuming large doses can result in intense and potentially harmful experiences. The impairment caused by psychedelic plants (including psilocybin) can be intense and cause discoordination falling injuries, and may exacerbate feelings of depression, paranoia, or anxiety.

Who Was The First Physician To Link Psychedelic Plants to Wellness Benefits?

A Swiss chemist named Albert Hofmann was the first to discover LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, on November 16, 1938. Hoffman wasn’t the one who discovered the intoxicating aspects of certain types of mushrooms, but he did create the clinical foundation for understanding psychedelic plants and their physical and psychological effects on humans.

Fast forward to the early 1960s, when Albert Hofmann expanded his psychedelic studies with an enthnomycologist named R. Gordon Wasson. An ethnomycologist is someone who studies mushrooms, including how they are cultivated and the role of them in human culture, folklore, and mythology.

In any event, the two were studying the ceremonial use of psychedelic plants by the Mazatec people in Mexico, an indigenous culture that used psychedelic plants for both spiritual and medicinal purposes. Hoffman and Wasson wrote “Seeking the Magic Mushroom,” which first introduced psilocybin to Western society.

And then, I guess you could say, things mushroomed from there.

Psychologists and physicians, as well as other scientists, began to research the potential therapeutic benefits of all psychedelics (including ketamine). It should be noted that Albert Hofmann did not directly advocate for the use of psychedelic plants, but his research became valuable to physicians and would move the research forward to explore applications for human wellness.

Is Psilocybin Legal In The United States?

Like another popular psychoactive plant in the United States, the answer is complex. Technically, psilocybin is legal for medicinal use when it is prescribed and/or administered by a healthcare professional.

In 2018, President Donald Trump signed the “Right to Try Act,” which allowed patients in compassionate care (terminal illness) to legally access psychedelics for treatment. In October of that same year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) distinguished psilocybin as a “breakthrough therapy.”

Psychedelic Mushrooms and the Controlled Substances Act

Psilocybin has a few things in common with cannabis; both drugs are classified as Schedule I on the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Schedule I drugs are considered to have a very high potential for abuse, addiction, and harm to human health, with “no currently accepted medical use in treatment” in the United States.

Oregon Legalized Psychedelic Substances for Therapeutic Use

Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use in November 2020. The Oregon health authority approved Measure 109, known as the Psilocybin Services Act, which allows for the regulated use of psilocybin-assisted therapy administered by licensed facilitators within approved therapeutic settings. i

An Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board was established, but the laws did not technically legalize psilocybin for recreational use. However, the state established a framework for its therapeutic use under the guidance of trained healthcare professionals for mental health treatments. Other states like California and Colorado are advancing legal reform regarding psilocybin as well.

Are Other Psychedelics Legal in the United States?

Interestingly, another psychedelic, ketamine, has been legal for off-label health and wellness use since the 1960s. Ketamine was often used during World War II for short-term analgesic relief. Today, a physician can prescribe ketamine in most states through a telemedicine consultation with an individual for mental health treatments.

Many companies provide both telemedicine consultation and ketamine doses to be administered at home, under the supervision of a healthcare provider. Unlike psilocybin, ketamin is a Schedule III drug on the Controlled Substances Act, along with substances like codeine, hydrocodone, and anabolic steroids.

What Happens When You Take Psilocybin?

You may be wondering if psilocybin therapy may be right for you. Some people have experienced psychedelic “trips” with illicit substances. The idea of using a psychedelic drug with a healthcare provider is new. However, in many states, patients are sharing success stories about using psilocybin services to recover from emotional injury.

How Psilocybin Physiologically Affects The Brain

Your brain on psychedelic plants or medications is similar to the physiological changes that occur after consuming cannabis. Psilocybin works primarily by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain, particularly the 5-HT2A receptors, leading to alterations in perception, mood, and cognition.

Upon ingestion, psilocybin is rapidly metabolized into psilocin, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to serotonin receptors, primarily in the prefrontal cortex and limbic system. This interaction disrupts normal serotonin signaling pathways, leading to profound changes in how the brain functions.

How Long Before You Start To Feel The Effects of Psilocybin?

Unlike other substances that take time to “kick in” with noticeable psychoactive effects, psilocybin is slower than smokable cannabis, but the onset is faster than cannabis edibles. On average, most patients begin to feel the influence of psilocybin within forty (40) minutes.

Profound Changes In Mood and Emotions

If you have negative experiences, such as abuse or a traumatic injury, those experiences weigh heavily on your mood, emotions, and daily life. Even if you try to push them to the back of your memory, they are still there, essentially weighing you down. You may think you are successfully suppressing trauma, but cortisol and stress levels remain high, when an individual has unresolved emotional injuries.

Psilocybin induces profound changes in mood and emotions. Many users report feelings of euphoria, interconnectedness, and unity with the surrounding environment or the universe. Peace, love, and mushrooms!

Others can experience emotional lability, with shifts between intense joy and deep introspection. A sense of awe and wonder often accompanies these emotional experiences. Psychedelic plants cause a journey within your brain and body; that’s why ancient civilizations used psilocybin for spiritual rituals and meditation.

Temporarily Bending Time and Space

Let’s do the time warp again! A man named Cisco Adler wrote the song for the 1975 cult classic film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Sure, it may be only a song and dance, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, they may have been referring to psychedelics. It was the 1970s, after all, and LSD was a thing.

As the effects of psilocybin begin to manifest, individuals typically experience an onset of sensory distortion, including heightened perception of colors, patterns, and textures. Visual hallucinations may occur, with objects appearing to breathe, morph, or take on surreal qualities. Auditory hallucinations, such as changes in sound perception or music appreciation, may also occur.

They don’t call it “a trip” for nothing.

Cognitive effects of psilocybin include alterations in thought patterns, perception of time, and sense of self. Users may experience a dissolution of ego boundaries, leading to a sense of unity with the universe and interconnectedness. Time may appear to slow down or become distorted, with moments of timelessness or eternity.

Suggested Therapeutic Benefits of Psilocybin

With so many different types of prescription medications and therapies, why are some people so interested in exploring psychedelic plants like psilocybin to improve personal wellness? According to some, psilocybin does not have the same intensity of side effects that many psychotropic medications have.

There are clinical studies that suggest psilocybin can provide effective relief of certain psychological symptoms or conditions where standard treatments have been ineffective. Researchers indicate that there are many ways psilocybin may help patients struggling with mental health disorders.

Treatment of Depression and Anxiety

There are many therapeutic options for people who are diagnosed with moderate to severe depression and anxiety. Treatment can include psychotropic medications in conjunction with lifestyle changes (exercise and diet) and counseling.

For some Americans with depression, however, relief remains out of reach. Patients may have TRD or treatment-resistant depression, where no modalities provide improvement, even after years of trying different types of therapies.

Psilocybin has shown promising results, particularly for patients with treatment-resistant depression and anxiety disorders. When conventional therapies do not work, studies suggest that psilocybin may help alleviate symptoms by promoting neuroplasticity and causing profound changes in perception and cognition.

The psychedelic experience induced by psilocybin may lead to increased introspection, emotional release, and a shift in perspective, which could be therapeutic for individuals struggling with mood disorders. This can be very effective for people who have deep-rooted emotional trauma or conditions like post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI).

Enhancement of Emotional Well-Being and Openness

Psilocybin has been associated with improvements in emotional well-being and increased openness, both during and after the psychedelic experience. Research suggests that psilocybin may facilitate a deeper connection with one’s emotions, leading to cathartic experiences and greater emotional insight.

This heightened emotional awareness and openness could potentially aid in psychotherapeutic processes, allowing individuals to address unresolved issues and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Suppose you are in touch with your emotions and personal experiences. In that case, the psychedelic journey or therapeutic “trip” can leave you feeling rested and more aware of your unique social, spiritual, and relationship needs.

Reduction of Existential Distress in Terminal Illness

When someone receives a diagnosis of a terminal illness, fear, sadness, depression, and anxiety are common emotions that the patient experiences. It is emotionally painful for both the patient and their family, and symptoms associated with the diagnosis may cause irritability and anger.

What matters most to families is providing comfort. Studies have explored the use of psilocybin-assisted therapy in individuals facing terminal illness, particularly those experiencing existential distress and end-of-life anxiety. Psilocybin therapy has shown promise in providing patients with a sense of peace, acceptance, and spiritual or existential insights.

By inducing mystical-type experiences and shifting perspectives on life and death, psilocybin may help individuals come to terms with their mortality and experience greater psychological well-being as they approach the end of life. And provide peace and calmness to help patients in compassionate care make the most of their time with those they love.

Psilocybin is used intermittently for mental health treatments for patients in compassionate care. Medical cannabis is often used to assist with inflammation and pain relief for patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Using a drug to help someone cure drug addiction sounds counterintuitive, but some people have found that doctor-supervised psilocybin services help kick chemical addictions to the curb.

Emerging evidence suggests that psilocybin may hold potential as a treatment for various forms of addiction, including:

• Alcoholism.
• Food addiction and other eating disorders.
• Nicotine (smoking cessation).
• Heavy drug addictions (cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamines).

Psilocybin combined with cognitive behavioral therapy can help heal emotional injuries, reduce stress, and help patients with addictions understand the underlying cause(s) of their addiction. Once that is clear to the individual, changing behaviors and patterns may be successful with the help of a trained psychotherapist.

Reduction of Treatment-Resistant PTSD Symptoms

Psilocybin has shown promise in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), particularly in individuals who have not responded to traditional therapies. Psilocybin-assisted therapy may help patients revisit traumatic memories in a safe and controlled setting, facilitating emotional processing and reducing the emotional charge associated with past traumas.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is considered one of the treatment-resistant mental health conditions. When an experience or repeated occurrences of injury (emotional or physical) occur, the brain may compartmentalize the trauma. Essentially, to protect us, the human brain puts that trauma in a box and tries to forget it.

Why Psychedelics May Help People Living With Trauma

People suffering from post-traumatic stress injury may have no recollection of the traumatic event. They may remember what happened but may not understand that the experience was the source of the emotional injury. Psychedelic therapy helps remove that wall, and with help from a mental health care provider, unpack and process the trauma so that the patient can reduce (and potentially end) recurrent symptoms of PTSD.

By promoting neuroplasticity and facilitating fear extinction, psilocybin therapy could offer new avenues for treating PTSD and related psychological conditions. Some patients have shared that psychedelic medical use helped unlock the root cause of the trauma and traumatic memories in a less upsetting way.

Will Voters Decide if Psilocybin Becomes Legalized?

Measure H.3605 from Representative Nicholas A. Boldyga (R) advanced with the Massachusetts legislative committee on February 7, 2024. The bill would legalize psilocybin therapy (doctor-prescribed and assisted) in the commonwealth. Much like legalizing cannabis, the legislation provides a framework to establish licenses to monitor therapeutic use.

The facilitators would have to complete a mandatory number of hours of training, which would include personal practical experience. While there are no guarantees, it is possible that Massachusetts voters may see the state question about legalizing psilocybin services on the November 2024 ballot.