Learn More
About Marylanders for Beneficial Psychedelics
Who we are: A broad coalition of individuals and organizations supporting progression of psychedelic legislation in Maryland.
What we’ve done: Drafted, lobbied, and helped facilitate HB0548 (Del. Guzzone) and SB1009 (Sen. Feldman) to create Maryland’s “Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances.”
What we can offer: Ongoing support to the Task Force, toward broad, equitable, affordable access of natural psychedelic substances.
Overview of Psychedelics
What are “psychedelics”?
A class of psychoactive substances that produce changes in perception, mood, and cognitive processes.
For a great overview on psychedelics, see:
- Psychedelics Primer.
“How to Change Your Mind” – Best-Selling Book and Netflix Mini-Series Episode 2 explores psilocybin/psilocin, and episode 4 explores mescaline.
An article by PsychologyToday on Psychedelics
What conditions can psychedelics treat?
Psychedelics can treat suicidality, addiction, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), chronic headache, chronic pain, eating disorder, traumatic brain injury. Psychedelics can also improve life satisfaction, ecological behavior, and spirituality.
More information on health uses of psychedelics:
- Clinical Trials involving Psychedelics in Maryland
- Veterans Administration: Evidence Brief: Psychedelic Medications for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
- Chronic Pain and Psychedelics: A Review and Proposed Mechanism of Action
- Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board: Rapid Evidence Review and Recommendations
Are psychedelics well-recognized?
- The Food and Drug Administration designated psilocybin as “breakthrough therapy.”
- The Department of Defense is funding psychedelic research for military and veterans.
- Psychedelics have been used for millennia in healing ceremonies among global cultures.
- A collection of articles on the potential of psychedelics.
How do psychedelics work?
Effects are almost certainly due to neurogenesis and neuroplasticity.
They activate the brain’s serotonin system – the same system many currently approved antidepressants work.
Mental health conditions are chronic diseases of the brain, where connections between brain cells (neurons) are different – psychedelics create both new neurons and “correct” connections between the neurons. This is fascinating science, and explains why so many mental health conditions can be treated with natural psychedelic substances.
5-min video from a researcher in Maryland explaining psychedelics.
Are psychedelics safe?
Psychedelics are not physically addictive, if anything, they are anti addictive. Psychedelics have been shown in research to be well-tolerated, with minimal negative effects. There is no lethal dose. Psychedelic-related injury is due to the dangers of lack of testing, impurities in supply, bad actors abusing power in the absence of above-ground treatment options, and lack of education of safe and appropriate environments for psychedelic use. Intellectual or memory impairment is minimal. They do not cause a stupor or narcosis as alcohol and heroin do. And they do not produce excessive stimulation like that experienced with cocaine and amphetamines. With psychedelics, there is no hangover, no withdrawal period, no dependence, and virtually no addiction potential.
What do psychedelic users experience?
A person’s experience of psychedelics varies significantly depending on the individuals’ biology, the substance, the dose, and environmental factors such as mindset and physical setting.
At lower doses (often called “microdosing”), users do not experience any shift in perception, except for subtle improvements in mood, creativity, and cognitive functioning.
At higher doses, users of psychedelics often report life-changing experiences of unity and connection, often accompanied by new insights and meaning.
2-min video from a patient in Maryland about her experience in a psilocybin trial.
5-min video from a psychedelic user about his experience with psilocybin.
Psychedelic Policy and Bill HB0548
What does the Bill (HB0548) do?
Establish a Task Force to study and make regulatory recommendations regarding psychedelics.
What psychedelic policy already exists?
Why pay attention to psychedelics?
- Psychedelics are the “cutting edge” future of medical and mental health treatments (See “About Psychedelics” below).
- Given ever-increasing support, Marylanders want these new and promising treatment options.
- Marylanders already have unregulated access to psychedelics, seeking treatment through “underground” services, and doing so without supervised facilitation, education around appropriate environments for use, or a safe regulated market from which they may purchase these plants and fungi.
Why a Task Force?
- Leverages available in-state expertise.
Ensures interdisciplinary, comprehensive, and inclusive understanding.
Considers diverse perspectives, with extensive community engagement.
Allows for nuanced policy frameworks that can adapt to rapidly evolving scientific and social insights.
Represents multiple interests: public health, mental health, research, law enforcement, religious use, veterans, drug policy, underserved communities, etc.
Why Maryland?
- Maryland is considered a leading state for psychedelic clinical research.
- A task force is crucially needed for Maryland to maintain and increase its standing in the psychedelic science field.
What substances does this Bill include?
This bill includes the compounds below that all exist naturally in fungi and plants:
Psilocybin & Psilocin: Both psilocybin and psilocin occur in fungi, which are commonly referred to as “Magic Mushrooms.” Psilocybin is metabolized in the liver and becomes psilocin, which is the substance that then engages the serotonin receptors.
Mescaline: Found in a variety of cacti species including Echinopsis pachoni (San Pedro Cactus) and Lophophora williamsii (Peyote).
Dimethyltryptamine (DMT): Traditionally extracted and prepared into teas, such as Ayahuasca. It is found in a variety of plants and is most significantly used in South America.
What other states have increased access to psychedelics?
States with Enacted Access: Oregon, Colorado, Washington D.C.
States Considering Access Legislation: Arizona, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York
States with Enacted Task Forces: Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, Texas, Washington
States Considering Task Forces: Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont
States with Research Legislation (in progress or passed): Arizona, Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin
States with Other Legislation (in progress or passed): Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Vermont