Psilociety Weekly: The Golden Era for Psychedelics? RFK Jr. & Global Policy Shifts

Could 2025 be the year of the psychedelic policy revolution?

This week, I focus on the sweeping psychedelic policy changes in the United States and the UK.

In the US, there are several state and federal psychedelic initiatives, including legalization, decriminalization, and deprioritization. 

With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. taking office as Secretary of Health and Human Services, his openness to psychedelics could shape future policies around access, regulation, and medical use.

Last week, the UK's Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology released a study that examines the policy implications surrounding psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) in the UK, focusing on benefits, risks, regulatory challenges, and the pathway from research to treatment.

🧠 This Week in Psychedelic Science

This week we focus on policy

• Hawaii’s proposed bill SB1042 would establish a special fund to support research, clinical trials, and education for emerging mental health therapies, including psychedelics. Read full summary 👉
• New Mexico’s SB0219 proposes a regulated medical psilocybin program, establishing legal pathways for therapeutic use while ensuring oversight and research funding. Read full summary 👉
• Rhode Island’s proposed bill H5186 would allow personal cultivation of psilocybin and create a pathway for regulated medical use pending federal changes. Read full summary 👉
• HB528 proposes legalizing psilocybin for adults 21+ in New Hampshire, removing criminal penalties while maintaining age restrictions. Read full summary 👉
• Tacoma’s Resolution 41609 deprioritizes law enforcement against entheogens, supporting decriminalization and mental health research. Read full summary 👉

🔬 Deep Dive: Featured Study of the Week

Title: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy for Mental Health: Policy Considerations

Published In: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POSTbrief 64)

Key Finding: Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) has shown promise in treating mental health conditions like PTSD and depression.However, the classification of psychedelic drugs as Schedule 1 substances in the UK presents significant barriers to research, making clinical trials expensive and logistically challenging. There is ongoing debate about rescheduling certain psychedelics to facilitate further research while maintaining strict controls.

Why It Matters:

• Larger clinical trials could provide more definitive evidence on the safety and effectiveness of PAT.
• Addressing regulatory challenges could accelerate the availability of new treatment options for individuals with treatment-resistant mental health conditions.
• Policy decisions in the coming years will determine whether psychedelics can transition from research settings to mainstream therapeutic use.
• As a global leader in medical research, the UK’s approach to psychedelic-assisted therapy could influence policy changes in other countries.

Read the full summary with link to the full study 👉

🎙️ Expert Insights

Ariel Clark on legalizing psychedelics:

"We find ourselves in a major ecological, spiritual, and mental health inflection point. How can we be responsive to this moment in a way that is careful, sacred, and good?"

Ariel Clark is an Anishinaabe attorney and co-founder of the Psychedelic Bar Association, discussing the ethical challenges of psychedelic law.

In a recent interview, Ariel emphasizes the need for a more responsible and community-centered approach to legalization, rather than simply replicating existing regulatory systems. 

Ariel highlights the importance of understanding different cultural perspectives, the role of lawyers in ensuring ethical frameworks, and the need for deep reflection on how psychedelics fit into society.

🌐 Community & Resources

Books, podcasts, events, and educational content for the Psilociety community.

📚 Recommended Book - (Pre-order: 12 Jun 2025) Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats: A Guide to the History, Identification and Use of Psychoactive Fungi by Paul Stamets: Renowned mycologist Paul Stamets presents a beautifully illustrated, in-depth guide to foraging, identifying, growing, and safely using psilocybin mushrooms. Offers a deep dive into the history, science, and cultural significance of these remarkable fungi.

🎙️ Podcast Recommendation - Why the Catholic Church is Now Embracing Psychedelic Drugs: The podcast examines The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku, which argues that psychedelics played a role in early Christianity and could help revive religion today. Travis Kitchens & Danny Jones debate its reliance on historical interpretation over scientific evidence. They also highlight its framing of psychedelics as both a spiritual and medical cure-all.

📆 Upcoming event - SXSW Psychedelics Track: The SXSW 2025 Conference, scheduled for March 7–15 in Austin, Texas, features a dedicated Psychedelics Track from March 8–10. This track aims to explore the profound potential of psychoactive substances, bringing together researchers, healthcare professionals, and investors to discuss the integration of these centuries-old substances into mainstream society.

🔎 Research Spotlight: Open Calls & Clinical Trials

Opportunities to participate in psychedelic research.

United States

• Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Smoking Cessation – NYU Langone's Center for Psychedelic Medicine is recruiting individuals interested in quitting smoking for a study involving psilocybin-assisted therapy.
• Psilocybin for Chronic Low Back Pain – The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is conducting a study to evaluate whether psilocybin therapy can help patients cope more effectively with chronic low back pain
• Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Advanced Cancer – NYU Langone's Center for Psychedelic Medicine is seeking participants for a study examining the effects of psilocybin-assisted therapy on depression and anxiety in patients with advanced cancer.
• Psilocybin for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Sheppard Pratt is recruiting participants with GAD for a study involving MM120 (a semisynthetic form of LSD) to assess its potential in improving anxiety symptoms.
• Psilocybin for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) – Sheppard Pratt is also seeking participants with MDD for a trial evaluating the efficacy of MM120 in alleviating depressive symptoms.

United Kingdom

• Psychedelics and Couples Study – Imperial College London is investigating the long-term effects of psychedelics, including MDMA and psilocybin, on romantic couples. They are seeking couples planning to use these substances together.
• Ketamine and Synaptogenesis Study – Imperial College London is recruiting participants for a study exploring how ketamine affects synaptogenesis (the formation of new neural connections) and its potential role in treating depression. Researchers aim to better understand ketamine’s impact on brain plasticity and mental health.
• Psilocybin for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Study – Imperial College London is seeking participants for a study investigating the effects of psilocybin on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The research aims to explore how psilocybin impacts symptoms and brain function in individuals with OCD.
• DMT and Synaptogenesis Study – Imperial College London is recruiting participants to explore how DMT influences synaptogenesis (the formation of new neural connections). This study aims to understand its potential role in neuroplasticity and mental health treatments.