Minnesota Legislature Advances Health Policy Bill with Psychedelics Task Force Provision

LOS ANGELES– The Minnesota legislature has passed a comprehensive health policy bill that includes provisions to establish a psychedelics task force in preparation for potential legalization. The bill, which had previously passed the House and recently cleared the Senate, is now headed to the desk of Governor Tim Walz for final approval.

The legislation creates a Psychedelic Medicine Task Force, tasked with advising lawmakers on the legal, medical, and policy aspects associated with the legalization of psychedelic medicine in the state. The task force will conduct a thorough review of existing scientific literature on the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelic medicine in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and other potential conditions where psychedelic medicine may offer effective treatment options.

Additionally, the task force will develop a comprehensive plan addressing the statutory changes necessary for the legalization of psychedelic medicine and outline state and local regulations for its use. The inclusion of the psychedelics task force in the health legislation has garnered excitement among lawmakers who recognize the potential of these substances as innovative treatments for various diseases.

Senator Kelly Morrison, a proponent of the provision, highlighted the importance of studying psychedelic medicine during a conference committee meeting, stating, “This is a really interesting and innovative potential new treatment for depression and other diseases, so studying that will be important.”

The passage of this health policy bill with the psychedelics task force provision comes just days after the Minnesota legislature approved a separate bill to legalize marijuana, which Governor Walz has indicated he will sign into law. With growing recognition of the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine, the establishment of the task force signals the state’s commitment to exploring alternative treatments and potentially expanding access to these substances in a regulated manner.

Once signed into law, Minnesota will join a growing number of states taking steps to study and consider the legalization of psychedelic medicine as an additional tool in the treatment of mental health conditions.