A Proposed Amendment to Psychedelics Continues Onward Yet Cannabis Proposal Gets Denied

Currently, both cannabis and psilocybin are illegal under federal law and are Schedule I substances, and as such, researchers also cannot study the substances. A proposed amendment to a large-scale spending bill that funds portions of the government during the 2020 Fiscal Year, introduced by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), may have a significant impact on the study of psilocybin and MDMA. Psilocybin is the active compound in “magic shrooms,” while MDMA is ecstasy. According to the proposed amendment, these substances have “shown promise in end of life therapy and treating PTSD.”

If the amendment is approved, a provision to the spending bill that prohibits spending federal funds on “any activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or other substance in Schedule I” of the Controlled Substances Act would be eliminated, thus paving the way for research.

Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about the amendment, stated “From the opioid crisis to psilocybin’s potential w/ PTSD, it’s well past time we take drug use out of criminal consideration + into medical consideration. That begins with research. I’m proud to introduce an amendment that helps scientists do their jobs.”

Another amendment was filed by Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) concerning the spending bill. His amendment would prevent the Department of Education from moving “to deny or limit any funding or assistance to institutions of higher education” allowing for the use or possession of medical marijuana in states where the substance has been legalized. Pedro Padilla, the University of Utah NORML Director, shared with Marijuana Moment, “It is frustrating that patients who are seeking to improve their position in life by attending college would be forced to choose between their education and their medication.”

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