Will Illinois join other states in the legalization of psilocybin for supervised adult use?
A grower cuts psilocybin mushrooms to prepare for distribution in Springfield, Ore., Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Naturally occurring substances like psilocybin, a fungus, can’t be patented by themselves. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
Psilocybin is a hallucinogenic substance derived from certain types of mushrooms. It's currently classified as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States. Recently, there's been a growing effort to make psilocybin more accessible for mental health treatment.
In 2020, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize psilocybin and legalize its supervised use, joined by Colorado in 2022. State Sen. Rachel Ventura hopes Illinois will soon join them. We discuss what the CURE Act would allow, how compromises have been made to gain bipartisan support, and next steps for the bill.
We speak with Dr. Joshua Woolley about his ongoing research on the use of psilocybin for mental health treatment, how it works, and what remains unknown about the psychedlic drug.
GUESTS:
Sen. Rachel Ventura
IL. State Senator • Democrat, representing Illinois' 43rd Senate District
Dr. Joshua Woolley
Psychiatrist • Associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, at UCSF and the San Francisco VA Medical Center