Leaders from Oregon will discuss how their psilocybin therapy program has helped thousands and detail lessons for the 2024 Massachusetts ballot initiative regulating psychedelics
Boston — On Tuesday, February 13th, Massachusetts for Mental Health Options, an advocacy group pushing a ballot initiative to regulate certain psychedelic treatments in Massachusetts, hosted a media briefing with a panel of leaders in the Oregon psychedelic space over Zoom.
“We take our responsibility as the first state to stand up state regulated psychedelic healing incredibly seriously,” said Healing Advocacy Fund Executive Director Sam Chapman. “Our program in Oregon represents an opportunity for so many people in need, but we also understand how important it is to get this right.” The Healing Advocacy Fund is a nonprofit organization that works to expand and protect safe, affordable state-regulated access to psychedelic healing for all who need it. Psilocybin is
“I strongly support the ongoing implementation of psilocybin therapy in Oregon, said Oregon State Senator Elizabeth Steiner, a physician who supported the successful 2020 ballot measure passed in Oregon to create a state-regulated psilocybin therapy program. “We owe it to our friends, family and community members who are in need of meaningful support to heal from anxiety, depression and addiction.”
How Psilocybin Therapy Has Shaped Oregon Health Care
Following the 2020 ballot measure, Oregon researchers, health care professionals, advocates and state officials spent two years designing rules for the state’s psilocybin therapy program. Oregon’s program allows psilocybin therapy in a licensed service center under the supervision of a trained and licensed facilitator. As of the end of 2023, more than 750 clients had received psilocybin therapy in Oregon; The Healing Advocacy Fund’s Chapman believes that thousands will have gone through the program by the end of 2024.
At today’s panel discussion, and Senator Steiner were joined by Marine Veteran Tommy Wisdom and Marine Veteran, Firefighter, and Psilocybin Facilitator Ben Kramer, who discussed how the benefits and experience of psilocybin therapy, particularly for veterans.
“These substances are tools and helped me be the best version of myself,” said Wisdom “They have given me a life that is better, stronger and more fulfilling.”
“Most folks who come here for the program have not done drugs before,” said Kramer. “They come because they need our help.”