Iowa Lawmaker Supporting Medical Psilocybin Bashes Bill That Would’ve Legalized Only A Synthetic Version Of The Psychedelic

*Shipley said he “condemns Compass Pathways” for its approach at creating,
and patenting, a synthetic version of the “natural psilocybin that God has
given us that everyone knows and loves.” *

*By Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch*

An Iowa lawmaker who pushed for the passage of a bill to create a state
program allowing the medicinal use of psilocybin said Gov. Kim Reynolds’s
(R) decision to veto a bill pertaining to the psychoactive compound in
magic mushrooms was a “great decision.”

Rep. Jeff Shipley (R-Fairfield) said rather than focus on rescheduling a
synthetic version of the drug, the state should instead prioritize creating
a state program legalizing the psychiatric use of naturally occurring
psilocybin.

House File 383 would have allowed for the prescription and distribution of
synthetic psilocybin immediately following federal approval of the drug,
and mirrored a similar bill, which was signed into law, in Colorado.

The bill dealt with crystalline polymorph psilocybin, a compound commonly
known as COMP360, which is a treatment developed by the biotechnology
company Compass Pathways to help patients with treatment of resistant
depression, post traumatic stress disorder and anorexia nervosa.

Shipley said he “condemns Compass Pathways” for its approach at creating,
and patenting, a synthetic version of the “natural psilocybin that God has
given us that everyone knows and loves.”

Compass Pathways declined to comment on the veto of the bill, which it
lobbied in support of, and on Shipley’s comment.

Shipley’s emailed statement also apologized for his vote in favor of the
bill, which passed unanimously in both the House and Senate.

“The proper legal framework is to reschedule psilocybin to schedule IV or
III, and allow the relevant state regulatory boards to make it available as
medicine,” Shipley said.

Reynolds, in her explanation of the veto, similarly said the state should
have time to review any federal action on the synthetic version of the drug
before it legalizes it at the state level.

Shipley was a vocal supporter of House File 978, which would have legalized
the use of psilocybin for psychiatric treatment through a state program.
The proposed program would have operated similarly to the state’s medical
cannabis program.

The bill passed the House with an overwhelming majority in late April, but
was not taken up by the Senate.

“It’s my hope and prayer that the Governor’s office and the Iowa Senate
will agree to take up…HF978 as an immediate priority next January,” Shipley
said.

*This story was first published by Iowa Capital Dispatch.*

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Would’ve Legalized Only A Synthetic Version Of The Psychedelic appeared
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