Magic Shrooms – The Next “Grassroots” Drug?

Written by: Brian Allen

Vice President Government Affairs

Mitchell International

Iowa State Representative Jeff Shipley recently introduced a bill, HF 249, which would legalize psilocybin, ibogaine and MDMA (ecstasy, “Molly”) for medicinal use. This is the first legislation of its kind filed in a state legislature. However, as happened with marijuana, several states have created or are attempting ballot initiatives to allow medicinal use of psilocybin. 

• In Oregon, the Psilocybin Service Initiative is promoting a 2020 ballot initiative to legalize the medicinal use of psilocybin.  
• In early February, the Denver Elections Division certified a municipal ballot measure that would make possession of psilocybin a “low enforcement priority” for local law enforcement. Denver voters will be able to consider this ballot in the fall.
• A similar measure in California failed to garner enough signatures to be placed on the 2018 ballot.  

Grassroots support is growing, fueled in part by the success marijuana supporters have had in their quest to legalize medical and recreational use of marijuana. Emerging research into the medicinal use of ‘magic mushrooms’ is also helping stoke support. In October 2018, the neuroscience journal Neuropharmacology published a study on psilocybin, which was conducted by researchers from John Hopkins University School of Medicine. Their study examined the results of several other studies on psilocybin and involved tests on 51 patients,  The researchers settled on several important conclusions:

• Studies involving humans and animals using psilocybin mushrooms showed low abuse potential and no indication of physical dependence.   
• Psilocybin has therapeutic possibilities in the areas of cancer-related psychiatric stress and substance abuse disorder treatment that support its development as a new drug.
• Analysis supports the scheduling of psilocybin as a Schedule IV drug or lower.  

The researchers note that more extensive studies need to be conducted to fully understand the drug’s abuse potential and its therapeutic uses. The researchers also caution that the use of psilocybin should be strictly controlled.  

A study conducted by the Beckley Foundation, a group that researches reforms on global drug policy, looks at the potential medical uses of psilocybin. The Beckley researchers concluded that psilocybin is effective in alleviating treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, the Usona Institute is currently conducting clinical trials to measure the therapeutic effect of psilocybin for treating major depressive disorder. Psilocybin is also being studied as a smoking cessation tool and as a tool for enhancing creativity.  

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) still classifies psilocybin as a Schedule I drug based on its abuse potential and lack of known medical uses. The DEA fact sheet on psilocybin states, “The psychological consequences of psilocybin use include hallucinations and an inability to discern fantasy from reality. Panic reactions and psychosis also may occur, particularly if a user ingests a large dose.”

Other federal agencies are also weighing in on psilocybin’s potential path to legalization. In August 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval to COMPASS Pathways to conduct clinical studies on psilocybin and its effect when treating patients with treatment-resistant depression. Those studies are currently underway. However, the path to FDA approval can take five years or longer. Given that trajectory, there is a potential that psilocybin proponents will take a page out of the marijuana grassroots and lobbying kit by starting a campaign to influence public opinion and pass laws approving psilocybin for various maladies that outpace the actual science on the drug.  

Considering these points on psilocybin’s clinical and legal journey, what outcomes might we expect from the various bills and initiatives proposed across the US?  Representative Shipley has publicly admitted that his bill in Iowa made a statement but does not have much, if any support among his colleagues. The ballot measure in Denver might have an easier path, since Colorado was one of the leaders on legalizing marijuana. However, it is still an uphill battle because voters are less familiar with ‘magic mushrooms.’

The results from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health highlights how this lack of public familiarity with psilocybin may make its road to legalization more difficult. The survey indicates that only 0.5% of adults surveyed reported recent use of a hallucinogen (which would include psilocybin) in 2016. That compares to nearly 9% of Americans who reported current use of marijuana. Nevertheless, come this fall, Denver could become the opening salvo on a new national battle to flout federal law and legalize another currently illicit drug.