Studies show that psilocybin can help:
“We should not be forcing our service members or veterans to use nonprofits and go down to Mexico to get this treatment to save their lives. We should be looking into it, at least, ourselves.”Rick Perry, R-Former Governor of Texas, at the MAPS Conference, Denver 2023
“We should not be forcing our service members or veterans to use nonprofits and go down to Mexico to get this treatment to save their lives. We should be looking into it, at least, ourselves.”Rick Perry, R-Former Governor of Texas, at the MAPS Conference, Denver 2023
Psilocybin is widely regarded as one of the safest controlled substances. A 2010 study published in The Lancet found that psilocybin is the least dangerous drug when ranking substances like alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis on public health criteria, including crime and physical harm.
In Washington, hallucinogenic drugs have a relatively low impact on public safety. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs reported only 23 hallucinogen-related offenses in 2022, compared to 1,398 amphetamine/methamphetamine offenses. Notably, these 23 cases were not under the safe administration process outlined in the WA Bill.
Recent data from the Oregon Health Authority further supports the safety of psilocybin when administered in a controlled setting. As of July 2025, Oregon legally administered over 27,725 doses, with only 13 emergency service calls.
Specific cost for Psilocybin assisted therapy can vary based on many factors: the condition being treated, venue where it will be administered, and an evaluation of the patient and their needs, among several others.
These bills address this by providing equity, access, and inclusion to help control costs. We also believe pre and post integration counseling sessions can be covered by clients’ existing insurance coverage. And long term, as federal legality changes and insurance companies realize the cost savings, the goal it to have all aspects of care covered by insurance. This program will help produce substantial amounts of data furthering this progression.
A few people have claimed that “no one can use the terms medicine, treatment, or therapy” when discussing psilocybin assisted care. They claim that these are defined medical terms that can only be used for FDA approved treatments. Does this truly make sense? Numerous cultures for thousands of years have used these substances to treat and provide medicine in their communities. Are their practices not credible? Even the FDA calls psilocybin a potential breakthrough treatment and countless times has used these “restricted words.” The American Journal of Psychiatry also uses the words, therapy, treatment, and medicine in their research studies and articles.
Yes, in many respects, these substances are still experimental. Their risks and true potential are not fully understood. Yes, we should use words with care when discussing what is, and isn’t, a treatment. Wild claims of magical cures are inaccurate and inappropriate. But done with care, either culturally and/or combined with other treatments and therapies, research finds that psilocybin can help people in a meaningful manner, and in those cases, it seems like it is a medicine, therapy, and treatment.
In many respects, psilocybin is well understood. It’s been used for thousands of years, and there have been hundreds of published clinical trials evaluating psychedelics, with the overwhelming majority being psilocybin. Let’s work together, and use our words with care, because we need best practices across the spectrum to help people heal.
Studies show that psilocybin can help:
“We should not be forcing our service members or veterans to use nonprofits and go down to Mexico to get this treatment to save their lives. We should be looking into it, at least, ourselves.”Rick Perry, R-Former Governor of Texas, at the MAPS Conference, Denver 2023
“We should not be forcing our service members or veterans to use nonprofits and go down to Mexico to get this treatment to save their lives. We should be looking into it, at least, ourselves.”Rick Perry, R-Former Governor of Texas, at the MAPS Conference, Denver 2023
Psilocybin is widely regarded as one of the safest controlled substances. A 2010 study published in The Lancet found that psilocybin is the least dangerous drug when ranking substances like alcohol, cocaine, and cannabis on public health criteria, including crime and physical harm.
In Washington, hallucinogenic drugs have a relatively low impact on public safety. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs reported only 23 hallucinogen-related offenses in 2022, compared to 1,398 amphetamine/methamphetamine offenses. Notably, these 23 cases were not under the safe administration process outlined in the WA Bill.
Recent data from the Oregon Health Authority further supports the safety of psilocybin when administered in a controlled setting. As of July 2025, Oregon legally administered over 27,725 doses, with only 13 emergency service calls.
A few people have claimed that “no one can use the terms medicine, treatment, or therapy” when discussing psilocybin assisted care. They claim that these are defined medical terms that can only be used for FDA approved treatments. Does this truly make sense? Numerous cultures for thousands of years have used these substances to treat and provide medicine in their communities. Are their practices not credible? Even the FDA calls psilocybin a potential breakthrough treatment and countless times has used these “restricted words.” The American Journal of Psychiatry also uses the words, therapy, treatment, and medicine in their research studies and articles.
Yes, in many respects, these substances are still experimental. Their risks and true potential are not fully understood. Yes, we should use words with care when discussing what is, and isn’t, a treatment. Wild claims of magical cures are inaccurate and inappropriate. But done with care, either culturally and/or combined with other treatments and therapies, research finds that psilocybin can help people in a meaningful manner, and in those cases, it seems like it is a medicine, therapy, and treatment.
In many respects, psilocybin is well understood. It’s been used for thousands of years, and there have been hundreds of published clinical trials evaluating psychedelics, with the overwhelming majority being psilocybin. Let’s work together, and use our words with care, because we need best practices across the spectrum to help people heal.