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The Future of the Psychedelic Decriminalization Bill in California, its Potential Impact on Patient Care
Senator Scott Wiener, discusses the California Senate Bill 519 he co-authored, which is the first and most expansive psychedelic decriminalization bill to go through a state legislature.
Pharmacy Times interviewed Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco and northern San Mateo County in the California State Senate, on the California Senate Bill 519 (SB519) he co-authored, which is the first and most expansive psychedelic decriminalization bill to go through a state legislature in the country.
Although SB519 was paused in the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee on August 25, 2021, Wiener explained that the bill is by no means dead and will be eligible to move forward in 2022. It also moved significantly further than previously expected, as it passed through the full state senate and all assembly policy committees before being paused in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
During the discussion, Wiener explained how exactly SB519 is different from other drug decriminalization bills to go through state legislatures in the United States, why SB519 was paused and what this may mean for its future, why decriminalization of psychedelic medicines would be valuable in light of the potential for FDA approval of these drugs, and what the impact of the passing of SB519 may be for patients, providers, and other health care professionals in California.
