On Friday, April 1, 2022 the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released revised proposed Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs) for psilocybin products, testing, and training programs. This post will focus on the rules related to products. Readers of this blog will recall we reviewed an early draft of these administrative rules back in February. Unsurprisingly, the rules
Over the past few years, access to mushrooms containing psilocybin has become much easier in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are now four dispensaries that sell psilocybin mushrooms in the city, including two locations downtown, one located on Commercial Drive, and one located on the Downtown Eastside. The prevalence of these dispensaries has made it
The outlook for psychedelics legalization in Washington State, and specifically psilocybin legalization, looks promising and continues to evolve at a rapid pace. The Spokane Bar Association recently held a seminar on emerging issues in the Washington psychedelic ecosystem. In October, Seattle became the largest in the United States to decriminalize psychedelics. As the second largest
Time for another Oregon psilocybin licensing update. In this post we will explain what the Licensing Subcommittee covered in its recent meeting on March 3, 2022. Licensing Subcommittee Schedule and Timelines The Licensing Subcommittee meets every month to develop licensing requirements for psilocybin businesses and professionals. So far, it has developed recommendations regarding informed consent
In this post, we’ll discuss Oregon psilocybin facilitator exam recommendations to date under Measure 109. Competency exams are common for professions such as therapists, public school teachers and nurses. For instance, every state has a Nurse Practice Act to protect public safety by requiring nurses to pass a certification exam prior to practicing as a
When a person ingests psilocybin, in any form, the effects can be unpredictable. Some people will feel no different than normal. Others find themselves in a state of emotional reflection, ranging from light to deep introspection. Yet some experience moments of fear, anxiety, or reliving past trauma. How may a facilitator assist a person experiencing
I recently published a nationwide psychedelics law roundup post. But in doing so, I realized that it’s been a while since we did a comprehensive California psychedelics update. Today, I’ll walk through the two key proposed California psychedelics laws and where they stand. California’s push to decriminalize (almost) all psychedelics In 2021, California Senator Scott
The gap in the treatment of controlled substances between the state and federal levels continues to widen. That has long been true with cannabis, but the trend has accelerated with psilocybin and other psychedelics recently. This growing disparity has implications under U.S. immigration law for employers and non-residents who wish to become involved in the
The Oregon Psilocybin Licensing Subcommittee meeting on February 3, 2022 dove into religions that use psilocybin, and how Oregon’s Measure 109 would protect and regulate such religions and religious practices. Rather than discussing recommendations and licensing regulations, the Subcommittee allowed two guest speakers to present on religious psychedelic practices. Psychedelic Religious Practices: Pastor Bob Otis
You’ve probably heard of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), which provides certain tax exemptions for qualifying charitable organizations. You also probably know that there are many psychedelic religious groups worldwide. The question I want to answer today is “can psychedelic religions obtain 501(c)(3) status?” What is 501(c)(3) status and how do religions
