Despite a decisive 2024 defeat at the ballot box advocates for the use of psilocybin - commonly known as psychedelic mushrooms - have advanced two bills in the legislature to narrowly legalize the substance for consumption by veterans, law enforcement officers, and “qualifying patients.”

The 2024 psilocybin ballot question which was soundly defeated 57% to 43% would have widely legalized mushrooms and established a “natural psychedelic substances commission” similar in structure to the scandal plagued Cannabis Control Commission.

The populations the bill aims to legalize mushrooms for - veterans and law enforcement - are the same demographics proponents of the ballot question employed to persuade voters during the failed ballot campaign.

Additionally anyone over 21, with a “medically diagnosed with a qualifying condition” would be allowed to use, possesses, transport and grow up to 2 grams of mushrooms legally.

The Joint Committee on Public Health issued unanimous recommendations on House 2506 and a related bill House 2532 in late December.

House 2532, An Act relative to Therapeutic Psilocybin Treatment Centers was reported out with a new draft, not yet available online, and would create a 5-site pilot program “establishing non profit therapeutic centers offering psilocybin treatment for mental and physical health needs” scattered geographically across the state.

"Law enforcement officers, first responders, and veterans carry real trauma, and too many run out of options. This evidence-based proposal honors those who serve, advances science, and frees up police resources for where they are needed most,” said Sarko Gergerian in a statement released by MassHealing.

In the 2024 ballot campaign proponents spent $3.9M during the calendar year (and another $3.7M in 2023), but opponents prevailed spending only $128,802.90 according to OCPF.

According to the text of House 2506 a qualifying condition is “a medical condition for which at least two and a majority of relevant clinical studies suggest psilocybin therapy in a clinical environment is safe and tolerable and which is not a disqualifying condition.”

Examples of disqualifying conditions are bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and Cluster A/B personality disorders.