New nonprofit aims to advise on creation of Oregon’s psilocybin-assisted therapy system

The people who brought psilocybin-assisted therapy to Oregon have created a new nonprofit to make sure the spirit of the ballot measure is preserved as state officials turn the voter-approved initiative into official policy.

Ballot Measure 109 contained a two-year implementation period to allow Oregon to introduce psilocybin-assisted therapy with as few problems as possible. To do that, the measure calls for setting up a board to advise on the implementation of the therapeutic use of psilocybin — the psychoactive ingredient in hallucinogenic mushrooms. The Oregon Health Authority is now going through 250 applications from people who want to sit on that advisory board, many of whom are from out of state and even from overseas.

That intense interest has pushed backers of the measure to create what they’re calling the Healing Advocacy Fund with the goal of maintaining the intent of the measure. Executive Director Sam Chapman, who previously served as Measure 109′s campaign manager, said the new nonprofit will help educate the public and lawmakers about the measure.