Maryland Government Task Force Recommends Multi-Phase Approach To Legalizing Psychedelics, Starting With Psilocybin

The Maryland government’s psychedelics task force has released a final
report to state lawmakers, recommending a phased implementation of a wide
range of reforms to provide legal therapeutic access to substances such as
psilocybin while eventually creating a regulatory pathway for broader
commercial sales.

About four months after issuing an interim report, the Maryland Task Force
on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances advised that it’s
ultimately recommending a “multi-pathway framework for safe, broad, and
equitable access to natural psychedelic substances, with an initial focus
on psilocybin.”

The psychedelics task force was formed following Gov. Wes Moore’s (D)
signing of a pair of bills into law in May of last year. The 17-person
body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), is charged
with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to
psychedelic substances” in the state.

“This report represents an unprecedented collaborative effort drawing on
Maryland’s legacy and leadership in psychedelic science,” Andrew Coop,
chair of the task force and a professor at the University of Maryland
School of Pharmacy, said in a press release. “Our goal has been to provide
evidence-based recommendations that prioritize public health, patient
safety, equity, and scientific integrity.”

The multi-step regulatory framework that members have recommended “involves
phased implementation of complementary elements from medical/therapeutic
use and supervised adult use, to deprioritization, and to commercial
sales,” the report says. “This model broadly and inclusively serves the
needs of Maryland’s diverse population while enabling unified safety
standards, accountability, and viable economic pathways for small
businesses.”

The first phase of the plan would be to create an advisory board to
establish safety parameters, data monitoring, practice guidelines,
licensing protections, public education campaigns, training for
facilitators, law enforcement and testing facilities, as well as “immediate
restorative justice measures,” the report states.

Under phase two, the state would implement “deprioritization measures” to
mitigate the harms of criminalization, provide for supervised medical and
adult-use consumption facilities, allow personal cultivation for “permitted
individuals” and promote research processes.

Finally, phase three would be contingent on the “demonstrated safety
outcomes and provider confidence” based on the prior steps. Should those
factors be satisfied, the last phase would lead to a commercial sales
program for adults “who maintain an active license to use natural
psychedelic substances,” coupled with an evaluation of the state’s
“readiness for expanding to additional natural psychedelic substances.”

“Safety and oversight measures ensure responsible and gradual expansion of
access while maintaining capacity to identify and respond to emerging
issues swiftly,” the report says. “This approach plans for long-term
learning and improvement: starting small, utilizing built-in evaluation and
accountability mechanisms from the outset, gathering real-world data, and
committing to an iterative approach to policymaking.”

Notably, the task force said it does *not* support “delaying state action
pending future federal [Food and Drug Administration] approval.”

“The Task Force recognizes that implementing such a comprehensive framework
requires careful sequencing and coordination, with particular attention to
scope of practice issues that may significantly affect the viability and
safety of different pathways. However, the order of implementation must
carefully consider professional regulatory frameworks and safety concerns
raised by medical organizations and health care providers. The Task Force’s
recommendation for simultaneous implementation of multiple pathways does
not mean that all components must activate on the exact same day, but
rather that Maryland should avoid the sequential approach seen in other
jurisdictions where implementing one pathway causes others to
‘languish,’and/or bolster black and gray markets.”

Rather, the task force said, the multi-phase approach to psychedelics
reform “establishes foundational systems that support all pathways equally,
followed by a coordinated launch of medical, supervised adult use, and
deprioritization pathways, with commercial sales following once product
safety systems are operational.”

“The Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic
Substances has developed a groundbreaking ‘ensemble’ system to serve the
diverse needs of Maryland residents while maintaining rigorous safety and
equity standards. This comprehensive framework is a significant departure
from the traditional single-pathway approach of other states and will
establish Maryland as the national leader in evidence-based psychedelic
policy reform.”

Members also said that the model envisioned could be used by other states
to develop their own laws that “adapt to their own circumstances and
values.”

“By prioritizing evidence over ideology, equity over exclusion, and
flexibility over rigid adherence to single approaches, Maryland is
positioned to demonstrate that thoughtful, comprehensive drug policy reform
can enhance both individual wellbeing and community safety,” the report
says.” The ensemble model stands as a testament to what becomes possible
when policymakers engage earnestly with stakeholders, follow the evidence,
and design systems that serve real human needs while acknowledging the
complexities and unresolved tensions that require ongoing attention and
development.”

At this point, the task force is only looking at psilocybin, mescaline and
DMT. While the legislature empowered members to investigate potential
regulations for other psychedelic substances, they decided to take a more
conservative approach in their initial work.

“Rather than choosing a single regulatory pathway, we’re integrating the
strongest elements from various approaches to maximize public benefit while
mitigating risks,” Shanetha Marable-Lewis, chair of the regulations and
governance committee of the task force, said. “The ensemble model allows us
to serve the diverse needs of Maryland’s population while maintaining
unified safety standards and accountability.”

As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation
contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue
recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to
support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home
delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing
natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of
potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however.

The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law
took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to
psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans
suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

“The work of the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural
Psychedelic Substances represents a historic collaboration across
disciplines and stakeholder groups,” the group’s final report says. “Over
the past year, thousands of hours of volunteer service have been devoted to
careful study, dialogue, and consensus-building. The resulting
recommendations—embodied in the Ensemble Model—reflect both scientific
rigor and civic imagination: a pragmatic yet visionary roadmap for ensuring
that Marylanders can access natural psychedelic substances safely,
ethically, and equitably.”

“This work demonstrates that meaningful reform need not be rushed or
partisan. It can emerge instead through open inquiry, compassion, and the
shared belief that public policy should serve the well-being of all
residents. Maryland now stands at a threshold. The state’s long history of
medical innovation, public health leadership, and commitment to religious
and civil freedom provide a strong foundation to lead the nation in
psychedelic policy reform.”

“By acting with foresight, Maryland can balance personal liberty with
collective safety, expand therapeutic options for those in need, and build
systems that reflect the highest standards of accountability, equity, and
care,” the panel said.

An accompanying report from researchers at Johns Hopkins University also
estimated that, if Maryland legalizes psilocybin for therapeutic use, it
can expect around 2,500–9,000 clients per year, “depending on access.”
Should the state implement a commercial psilocybin market, the report says
the prevalence of use “could plausibly rise,” with annual consumer spending
on the psychedelic projected to be in the $10-20 million range.


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Meanwhile in Maryland, the governor in June issued another mass pardon for
people with past marijuana possession convictions, granting clemency to
about 7,000 more people on the holiday Juneteenth that commemorates the end
of slavery.

In February, Moore also touted in his State of the State address
legislation that would expand opportunities for people to have their
criminal records for marijuana expunged, allowing people who violated terms
of their parole or probation to petition courts to erase those records.

In April, Moore signed a series of cannabis bills, including one that will require
state officials to automatically shield records for low-level marijuana
convictions that have been pardoned from public access, and to more broadly
expand expungement eligibility for certain other offenses.

He further signed off on legislation that will allow adults to manufacture
marijuana edibles and concentrates for personal use, as well as a measure
dealing with rules around cannabis consumption lounges.

Separately, the Maryland Senate also passed a measure this session to
protect for fire and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty use
of medical marijuana, though it did not advance through the House.

Employers could not “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate
against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the
employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment”
based solely on a positive screening for THC metabolites under the
legislation.

In January, officials in Maryland’s most populous county separately said they
were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an
effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage.

*Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo.*

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Legalizing Psychedelics, Starting With Psilocybin appeared first on Marijuana
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