In a surprising turn of events, a Missouri Republican lawmaker is advocating for the legalization of “magic mushrooms” for those over the age of 21.
Citing breakthroughs in research, State Rep. Tony Lovasco (R-O’Fallon) has proposed a bill that will allow the use of psilocybin for those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, who are battling chronic depression and the terminally ill.
The drug would be administered in a clinical setting by authorized medical professionals.
“These are very sympathetic people that, you know, are not the kind of folks that you would look at that are drug addicts, or people that are looking to find some loophole in the system to get high,” Rep. Lovasco said. “These are people who want treatment, they want to get better.”
According to the Missouri legislator, despite his advocacy to legalize psilocybin, he’s never taken mushrooms – or any other psychotropic drug for that matter.
“I’ve never even smoked a cigarette,” he told the Missouri Independent. “I’m a pretty boring guy.”
Though FDA approval is expected to come within two years, several states have either legalized psilocybin or decriminalized it.
In January, Oregon made it legal to take the drug provided it’s in a therapeutic setting – and as long as the user is over the age of 21.
Measure 109 passed with an overwhelming 56.12% of the over 1.8 million votes cast. Making the state the first in the nation to allow its supervised use, Oregon Live reported.
The people have spoken.
Colorado voters approved a ballot measure in November to remove the criminal penalties for psychedelic drugs – including psilocybin.
The Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled unanimously in 2020 that using “magic” mushrooms as a part of a religious ceremony could be protected under the state’s constitution.
New Hampshire’s constitution protects religious autonomy as long as it doesn’t “disturb the peace.”
This is a break from the country’s constitution in that it protects both the freedom of religion and religious practices as well, according to Heady Vermont.
Missouri’s suicide rate is 25% higher than the national average with roughly 1000 deaths a year.
The state has the highest number of veterans taking their own lives in the country.
“A lot of them aren’t going to be around in three years,” Lovasco said. “We’ve got, what 20-something veterans per day committing suicide? That’s a tremendous amount of loss while we wait for the government to do some paperwork.”
The Republican state representative appears to be genuine in his concern about those suffering the debilitating effects of PTSD and depression.
Extensive studies have shown psilocybin to be effective when used to treat alcoholism.
A study conducted by the peer review network JAMA, yielded promising results in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.
Psilocybin administered in combination with psychotherapy produced robust decreases in the percentage of heavy drinking days over and above those produced by active placebo and psychotherapy. – JAMA Psychiatry.
“For the purposes of getting people treatment, now, psilocybin is the most studied, the most proven, the safest, I think of the substances that I’ve been made aware of,” Lovasco said. “I think it’s the starting point that a lot of people are most comfortable with.”
Unlike a previous bill that failed to pass, Rep. Lovasco took a different approach.
This time the GOP lawmaker refers to psilocybin as a “natural medicine,” narrowing the scope of what drugs will be covered in an effort to see the legislation move forward.
Original reporting by Rudi Keller at the Missouri Independent.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
