Medical Magic Mushrooms In PA: Bill Would Explore Legalization

HARRISBURG — A state lawmaker from Montgomery County is behind a bill that would authorize clinical trials to be used to study the efficacy of psylocibin, also known as 'magic mushrooms,' on military veterans suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

State Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, R-147, herself a military veteran, has authored House Bill 2421, which was previously introduced as H.B. 1959.

In her sponsorship memo for the legislation, Pennycuick stated that military veterans are a segment of the population greatly affected by the ongoing mental health crisis in this country, and that suicide rates among veterans is one-and-a-half times higher than the non-veteran adult population.

It is estimated that on average, 20 veterans die by suicide every day.

"It is the duty of the Commonwealth to protect the health of its residents and to determine and employ the most efficient and practical means for the prevention and suppression of disease," Pennycuick wrote in her co-sponsorship memo. "As traditional treatment has proven inadequate at both the individual and public health level, the Commonwealth has a responsibility to research alternative options."

Pennycuick stated that growing research provides a "reason for hope" that psylocibin, when given in a controlled setting, could be considered the most "effective tool at our disposal to combat the suicide, opioid, and overall mental health crisis burdening the Commonwealth."

"Indeed, studies conducted by world renowned medical institutions indicate that psilocybin has shown efficacy, tolerability, and safety in the treatment of conditions including but not limited to addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, and end-of-life psychological distress," Pennycuick wrote.

Pennycuick noted that the United States Food and Drug Administration has already granted a "breakthrough therapy" designation for the use of psylocibin in treating depression, which means the substances demonstrates "substantial improvement" over treatments that are currently available.

She also pointed out that the State of Texas also recently passed a law, House Bill 1802, that would study the efficacy of psylocibin in treating PTSD among military veterans.

At the same time, however, Pennycuick noted that current federal law can somewhat hamper the ability of states to deal with substances such as psylocibin in any real, meaningful way, due to its current federal classification.

Pennycuick said her legislation would authorize the Pennsylvania Department of Health, in collaboration with the Health Research Advisory Committee, to contract with at least one academic research institution for the purpose of studying the efficacy and cost-benefit optimization of psylocibin and psylocibin-assisted therapy.

Under the proposal, health officials would have to submit to the Pennsylvania General Assembly interim reports every 180 days and produce a final report no later than Dec. 31, 2025, with the final report containing information about the result of the clinical studies, an analysis of current state and federal laws governing the substance, and recommendations to state lawmakers for legislative or other actions on how to implement a regulatory system overseeing the use of psylocibin in treating certain ailments.

"It is my hope that this study is the first step in learning more about the benefits of psilocibin and what can be done in the future for the citizens of this Commonwealth who are suffering from mental health conditions," Pennycuick wrote.

Legislative records show that the bill currently awaits action in the House Health Committee.