Are Legal Psychedelics Coming to New York State?

A group of New York state lawmakers have proposed a bill that would legalize natural psychedelics if passed and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

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According to a report by A.J. Herrington of Forbes, New York Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal, Jo Anne Simon and Karines Reyes proposed the bill to legalize natural psychedelics in New York State.

As written, the bill "Legalizes adult possession and use of certain natural plant or fungus-based hallucinogens; grants certain protections for individuals lawfully using such hallucinogens; removes such hallucinogens from the list of schedule I controlled substances; makes related provisions."

The legislation would not legalize the sale of the covered natural hallucinogens, but would all for possession, cultivation and exchange of the substances.

The bill also stated that naturally occurring psychedelic substances can be beneficial for treating a variety of things, namely pain, anxiety, substance use disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. It would go into effect on the 30th day of the month it becomes law.

According to Herrington's report, some of the natural psychedelics that would be legalized under the bill include DMT, psilocybin, ibogaine, mescaline and psilocin. Similar laws have been passed in stated like Oregon and Colorado. The announcement of the bill comes just days after recreational marijuana was legally sold in New York City for the first time.

As to the justification of the bill, the sponsors wrote "The failed war on drugs has led to devastating consequences for people across the nation. The criminalization of certain substances has not only left countless people incarcerated, it also has prevented individuals from accessing natural hallucinogens that can provide relief in battling mental health problems, substance use disorders, chronic pain or other health conditions."