Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) released their concept for a new bill which would allow seriously ill patients across the US to use schedule I drugs including marijuana, psychedelics, and other substances. This bill includes a patient right to use psilocybin and MDMA, bringing these drugs into the legal spectrum for the first time in a while. Other representatives have also co-sponsored the bill including Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Schedule I drugs—MDMA and psilocybin—show exceptional promise in treating a variety of mental health conditions. pic.twitter.com/sW6WLkjFe9
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) July 21, 2022
As of right now, there is a law in place allowing seriously ill patients to consume some narcotics that otherwise would be illegal. This law is called the “Right to Try” law and allows these patients to experiment with illegal substances. The bipartisan bill introduced by the senators and house members above would seek to clarify the law, opening the door for other substances to be included.
When asked for a comment on the matter, Senator Paul said, “As a physician, I know how important Right to Try is for patients facing a life-threatening condition… Unfortunately, the federal bureaucracy continues to block patients seeking to use Schedule I drugs under Right to Try. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan legislation with Sen. Booker that will get government out of the way and give doctors more resources to help patients.”
While typically terminally ill patients are allowed to access drugs that are in FDA clinical trials, they are barred from accessing Schedule I drugs, despite their therapeutic potential. https://t.co/VdNxjoBqX1
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) July 21, 2022
Blumenauer had this to say about the bill, “patients and doctors deserve to discuss treatments—including psilocybin—that researchers find provide immediate and sustained relief from pain, anxiety, and depression for people battling terminal illness…Federal restrictions have obstructed access to end-of-life care for too long, this legislation will change that and ensure that all patients have the Right to Try,”
Read the unedited article from marijuanamoment here.
