Oregon Voters Said Yes To Using Psilocybin As A Mental Health Therapy. What’s Next?

During the November election, Oregon voters approved a measure allowing licensed centers to provide psilocybin, the substance found in “magic mushrooms,” to help treat people experiencing a range of mental health issues. Oregon is the first state to approve such a program—and with that, eyes will now be on the state to see how it fares moving a substance that remains federally illegal into the sphere of reputable treatment. 

According to a study published in November 2020 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, major depressive disorder affects more than 300 million people worldwide. In the U.S., about 10% of the adult population has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder in the past 12 months. 

Gov. Kate Brown’s 2021-2023 budget includes $5.6 million to start implementingBallot Measure 109, which directs the Oregon Health Authority to create a state-licensed, psilocybin therapy program for the treatment of mental illnessesincluding depression, end-of-life psychological distress and post-traumatic stress disorder.