Victoria Cvitanovic, a former narcotics prosecutor, advocates for New York to pass legislation legalizing psychedelic mushrooms (psilocybin) for medical use. The proposed legislation would allow healthcare professionals to guide patients in supervised settings, extend legal protections, and allocate grants for access in financially vulnerable communities. Cvitanovic shares her personal journey from prosecutor to psilocybin advocate after a debilitating injury led her to seek alternative treatments like ketamine-assisted therapy. She argues that the science supports psilocybin therapy for conditions like PTSD and depression, and the proposed bill includes critical safeguards and addresses equity concerns to ensure treatment is accessible beyond the privileged. New York would be the fourth state to create a pathway for this evidence-based treatment.

Op-Ed: Former Prosecutor Argues New York Should Legalize Psilocybin Therapy

Oct 20, 2025

Source:

Marijuana Moment

New York is on the verge of a major breakthrough as medical psilocybin legislation picks up steam in the state legislature. In a compelling new op-ed, Victoria Cvitanovic, a former narcotics prosecutor turned advocate, argues that it’s time to trade criminalization for clinical care. After a severe spinal injury left her in despair, Cvitanovic found relief through psychedelic-assisted therapy, leading her to champion a system where patients can access these treatments in safe, supervised environments. The proposed bill focuses on rigorous safety standards and, importantly, social equity grants to ensure healing isn't just for the wealthy.

For those of us in the cannabis community, this is a massive win for plant medicine and personal autonomy. It shows that the same logic we used to legalize weed—prioritizing science over stigma—is finally being applied to other natural healers. If New York steps up, it will become the fourth state to provide a legal, regulated pathway for this life-changing therapy, further dismantling the outdated War on Drugs.