New push to legalize psychedelic mushrooms for mental health in Arizona

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — There is a new push to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in Arizona on a limited basis with new legislation moving through the state capitol. Tuesday, veterans and first responders who’ve seen the effects firsthand are once again putting magic mushrooms in the spotlight, saying it could be a game changer for mental health.

If approved, SB 1570 would open doors to a different kind of treatment. Patients who’ve used psilocybin mushrooms say they help with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. “I have my daughter here who could basically say I’m a changed person. I’m happy again,” said Robert Steele, who served in the Marines.

He says his psychedelic experience was life-changing and helped him process past trauma. “A lot of my problems, withdrawing from people, my anger problems, a lot of them have subsided,” Steele said.

He says using ‘shrooms with therapy helped him avoid a dependence on daily pharmaceuticals. “At one point in time, I used to take over 300 pills a month from the VA,” he said.

While more patients and advocates praise the positive effects of psilocybin, it is still an illegal controlled substance under federal law. There are penalties for both possession and distribution of the so-called magic mushrooms. “The first time I got treatment would be considered underground. I went to Montana, got treatment there. I got treatment in Mexico, California,” Steele said.

Many critics like Dr. Sue Sisley say those unregulated treatments out of the country has impeded scientific studies into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin. “We don’t have any objective data, nothing published in a peer review journal that would influence lawmakers or other community leaders so we need to get this data in place so we can all examine it together to understand what is the potential for these mushrooms,” she said.

The research institute where she works holds a drug enforcement administration license to legally grow the mushrooms. Treatment using them would include a controlled environment and counseling services. “This is not a treatment that everybody will seek,“ said Republican state Sen. T.J. Shope. “It is something that will be done in consultation with a patient’s medical professional in a very clinical close setting.”

Arizona’s Family reached out to the U.S. Attorney here in Arizona to ask where they stand on decriminalizing psilocybin. We’re still waiting to hear back. Supporters of this bill say they’re working closely with the federal government to get FDA authorization. It passed through committee unanimously Tuesday and is headed for a full vote in the Senate.

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