California Proposal Seeks to Establish $5 Billion Psychedelics Research Agency

LOS ANGELES— A group of strategists from California has formally introduced a proposed initiative known as the “TREAT California Act.” Unlike traditional efforts focused on advocating for direct legalization, this initiative aims to create a state agency with a substantial $5 billion budget dedicated to funding and advancing research on psychedelics.

The primary goal of the “TREAT California Act” is to elevate scientific exploration into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, including substances such as psilocybin and ibogaine. Rather than pursuing immediate decriminalization or legalization, the initiative’s proponents seek to prompt federal legalization of these substances by generating extensive data on their efficacy in treating serious mental health conditions like depression and addiction.

According to Marijuana Moment, the institute’s approach involves the allocation of targeted funding through government agency revenue bonds, amounting to $500 million annually for ten years. This funding strategy aims to ensure the initiative remains self-funded and retains intellectual property rights for the research findings.

The proposed agency plans to disburse grants and loans for various psychedelics research endeavors, encompassing a wide range of mental health conditions. Research will extend to addiction, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain, with particular emphasis on exploring potential benefits for first responders and military veterans.

Once psilocybin and MDMA receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for therapeutic use, the institute intends to facilitate the establishment of “care programs” for these substances within California. By securing FDA approval, these medicines could undergo rescheduling, potentially enabling health insurance coverage and broader legalization for therapeutic purposes.

In order to qualify for inclusion on next year’s ballot, the initiative must collect nearly one million valid signatures from registered voters. The campaign has set an initial fundraising target of $11 million to finance signature gathering and outreach expenses.

Deb Hubers, Chief Operating Officer of TREAT, disclosed the campaign’s collaborative efforts with key stakeholders in the field, including the national Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. By leveraging these partnerships and a substantial budget, the “TREAT California Act” seeks to revolutionize psychedelics research, paving the way for potential breakthroughs in mental health treatment.