Arizona Advances Psilocybin Research Initiatives

LOS ANGELES- Arizona legislators have approved measures to promote research into the medical applications of psilocybin, the active compound in certain mushrooms, and to establish a Psilocybin Research Advisory Council. The House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee unanimously passed House Bill 2486, allocating $30 million over three years for clinical trials investigating psilocybin’s potential in treating conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

The proposed research emphasizes the use of whole mushroom psilocybin cultivated under a Schedule I license from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Priority will be given to studies involving veterans, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, and individuals from underserved communities. The Psilocybin Research Advisory Council, to be established under the Arizona Department of Health Services, will oversee grant eligibility, application processes, and provide recommendations on psychedelic-assisted therapy based on current research and policies.