The Psychedelic Movement Isn’t Dead

In the wake of the US election, advocates for psychedelic policy reform are sizing up how federal and state laws might shape drug policy across the nation. Some are feeling hopeful because a few high-profile political figures have signaled support for federal reforms. Vice President-elect JD Vance recently discussed legalizing veteran access to psychedelics during his appearance on “The  Joe Rogan Experience.” Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Twitter his intentions to reform federal health policy, which would include legalizing access to psychedelic therapy.

On the surface, these endorsements appear to suggest potential momentum for federal initiatives. But the impact of the Trump Administration 2.0 remains uncertain. What we know are the facts: The psychedelics landscape is complex, and the movement itself seems to be navigating its own dark night of the soul. Between the rejection of Massachusetts' Question 4, the wave of bans on psilocybin businesses across Oregon, and the FDA’s refusal to approve MDMA-assisted therapy in August serve as a sobering barometer of where the psychedelics movement currently stands. But there’s still a lot of momentum. A number of promising developments are unfolding in various states across the US. Here’s a breakdown of what’s going on. 

New Jersey: On the Brink of Legalizing Psychedelic Therapy?

New Jersey is moving swiftly toward the possibility of state-level reform. Advocates are pushing a coordinated municipal outreach campaign for the Psilocybin Therapy Bill, spearheaded by the Psychedelic League of New Jersey. According to sources close to the coalition’s internal discussions, the proposed bill reportedly could pass through the state legislature before year’s end. The Garden State’s growing psychedelic advocacy coalition has received consultation from an array of scientists like Dr. Hannah McClane of Philadelphia’s SoundMind Institute, representatives from New Approach PAC, and a growing number of state legislators. 

New Jersey’s approach to grassroots psychedelic advocacy is distinctly local, emphasizing community-level outreach. The goal is to weave psychedelic therapies and harm reduction into the fabric of local communities, promoting responsible use, and paving the way for potential state-level legislation. 

"State-regulated programs open the door to access, but the real work happens at the municipal level," said Joseph Shapiro and Sara Price,New Jersey Psychedelic League co-founders, in a joint statement to DoubleBlind. By educating local leaders on consequential ordinances, like zoning and licensing,, the coalition says it is, “building a framework that not only promotes access but respects community-specific needs.” 

The bill could cross Governor Phill Murphy’s desk by the end of 2024, if not sooner.

New York: Coalition Building Done Right.

The history of psychedelic culture and advocacy in New York is well-documented, but what sets the latest wave of advocates apart is the diverse coalition of organizational stakeholders rallying together for state-level policy reform. Led in part by representatives from New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives (NYMHA), other notable organizational partners include the Brooklyn Psychedelic Society, Psychedelic Society of Western New York, the Psychedelic Assembly of NY, the POC Psychedelic Collective, and Psychedelics for Climate Action (PSYCA).

Avery Stempel, NYMHA co-founder, told DoubleBlind the group is “focused on educating lawmakers and the public about the immense benefits that psilocybin will have on the health and mental well-being of New Yorkers.” Stempel also shared that the group is “supporting a variety of legislative initiatives that each permit use in their own way, with a long-term goal of broad-based accessibility.” 

Minnesota: A Diverse and Dynamic Frontier

Minnesota’s political diversity and large Indigenous demographic make it a compelling contender for leading psychedelic decriminalization efforts in the Midwest.   

Dr. Jessica Nielsen, founder of the Psychedelic Society of Minnesota and chairperson of the state-appointed Minnesota Psychedelic Medicine Task Force, recently completed a comprehensive report for the legislature, which is set to be released on January 1, 2025. 

According to Nielsen — who is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota —  the task force’s report outlines a number of potential legal frameworks and policy reforms related to psychedelics. Additionally, Nielsen noted that the task force’s forthcoming report emphasizes the long-standing use of plant medicine in Indigenous cultures both native to Minnesota and elsewhere. 

Jade Mycelia, co-founder of the Minnesota-based psychedelic advocacy group Big Psych, emphasized the importance of equity-focused policies as a foundational pillar of the broader psychedelic movement.

“We must ensure that local activists, cultivators, and organizations aren’t pushed aside by big business,” said Mycelia to DoubleBlind, adding that organizationally, Big Psych remains committed to “advocating for grants, tax credits, and caregiver programs that strengthen community involvement.”

Missouri: Right-leaning State-Level Psychedelic Research Trailblazers

While Republican support for psychedelics has sparked much discourse, Missouri’s advocacy efforts, if successful, could become a blueprint for meaningful policy reforms in conservative states like Arizona and Kentucky, where similar proposals have failed in recent years.

Veteran leadership in legislative outreach and coalition-building efforts has been instrumental in garnering serious conservative support within the state legislature. Organizationally, Psychedelic Missouri has closely collaborated with the Grunt Style Foundation — a national Veteran-focused nonprofit providing life-changing resources and experiences for service members, Veterans, and their families.

Speaking of Kentucky, Brian Hubbard, an outspoken ibogaine advocate and attorney, played a critical role in Missouri activists' successful campaign to fund state-level psilocybin research with support from the state’s opioid crisis settlement fund. Public education efforts, including conferences, such as Psychedelic Missouri’s Freedom Conference, remain ongoing throughout the Show-Me State. 

Massachusetts: A Setback with Lessons Learned

Massachusetts recently faced a setback when voters struck down a state-wide psychedelics ballot initiative, known as Question 4, by a nearly 14-percent margin (56.8% to 43.2%). The measure aimed to legalize psychedelic therapy services and decriminalize personal possession and in-home cultivation of certain natural psychedelics. 

Leading in polls just a week before the election, the defeat was unexpected and dealt a blow to state-level advocacy efforts. Despite the disappointment, campaign staffers and grassroots psychedelic supporters alike agree that the experience has provided valuable insights for future campaigns, with prominent grassroots activists publicly stressing the need for broader public education and coalition-building in both the immediate and long-term future.

Jamie Morey, a longtime psychedelic activist who served as the Yes on 4 campaign’s Community Engagement Director, recently described the defeat of Question 4 on LinkedIn as “soul-crushing,” while adding that grassroots advocates across the commonwealth remain, “dedicated to keeping the momentum going because we believe the majority of citizens of Massachusetts support some sort of legal access to psychedelic healing.”

“We have the most decriminalized communities of any state” Morey’s statement continued, “and a post-election poll showed 66 %  of voters said they disagreed with the ballot question results and think that psychedelics should have been legalized for therapeutic use.” 

Connecticut: Building on Setbacks

Despite Massachusetts’ defeat, Connecticut remains a crucial player in New England’s psychedelic reform efforts. The state’s preeminent advocacy organization — Connecticut for Accessible Psychedelic Medicine (CAPM) — is led by a diverse coalition of psychedelic supporters who are intent on leveraging the Connecticut General Assembly’s longer session to introduce and pass legislation over a six-month period. Efforts are focused on creating a coalition of pro-psychedelic organizations that prioritize the working class and implement accountability measures to prevent the abuse of power within the movement. By emphasizing community and transparency, Connecticut aims to overcome the challenges faced in Massachusetts. 

“CAPM inherently believes that community is the medicine,” CAPM lead organizer Victor Constanza told DoubleBlind. He said  the group will work alongside activists in neighboring states to form “a coalition of New England pro-psychedelic organizations to develop support for any campaign that puts the working class first in any state as well as creating accountability measures for harmful behaviors for our leaders and members.” 

North Carolina: Preparing for 2025 

In North Carolina, House Bill 727 (HB727), the Breakthrough Therapies Research/Advisory Act, is pending in the Appropriations Committee. Introduced in April 2023 and unanimously passed by the Health House Committee, HB727 awaits potential state funding in 2025. The North Carolina Psychedelic Policy Coalition, established in 2022, is uniting health and science professionals to support legislation exploring the therapeutic benefits of MDMA and psilocybin. 

"Our focus is on shifting perceptions around alternative therapies,” said Gina Giorgio, founder of the coalition, adding that they are planning public events and a lobby day at the state legislature in early 2025. North Carolina’s health-oriented approach could pave the way for expanded psychedelic access and bolster public awareness.

New Mexico: Legislative Activity on the Horizon

New Mexico is gearing up for significant legislative activity in 2025, as three organizations prepare to introduce respective psychedelic bills. Senator Steinborn of Las Cruces and Representative Andrea Romero are set to introduce a psilocybin medical card bill, crafted with input from Indigenous representatives to establish a psilocybin-assisted therapy program centered on using natural mushrooms. Additionally, Decriminalize Psychedelics New Mexico plans to propose a decriminalization bill, with specific policy parameters that have still yet to be made public.

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