The Public Health Benefits of Psilocybin Act would be the first in Pennsylvania that would help establish a foundation for clinical studies of psilocybin or magic mushrooms.
Although House Bill 1959 was tabled less than a week ago, advocates are still talking about its benefits.
Former Wilkes-Barre resident, Drew Sinclair is currently in graduate school to become a therapist in Oregon.
He helped gather signatures for the Oregon psilocybin society before the state legalized psychedelic assisted therapy in 2020.
“We have a lot of people here who are really passionate about this kind of medicine essentially so the work that I’ve done has just been with getting those measures passed and reaching out to the community," said Sinclair.
The bill envisions research and clinical trials by universities and medical schools that are connected to a hospital or university.
Sinclair says the treatment would be a great alternative for residents in Pennsylvania suffering from mental health challenges or PTSD to substance abuse.
“There’s just so much evidence to demonstrate that its helping veterans across the board. The research that we’re seeing now is that its just inarguably affective in making massive changes in people’s mental health.”
With overdose deaths exceeding 100 thousand for the first time within a year period in the US alone, Sinclair says these new therapies are emerging at the right time.
“There’s definitely some indication that this is one route to go that could make a change for people that are stuck in addiction and may be by no fault of their own because they have been prescribed some medication that they cant get off of.”
Republican Representative Karen Boback was one of the 23 co-sponsors of House Bill 1959.
There is no word of the bill will receive further traction at this point.