Hobbs Vetoes Arizona’s Magic Mushroom Bill; Signs Bill Allowing Ecstasy (Molly) if FDA Approves its Use

Governor Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1570 this week, a proposal that would have directed ADHS to set system to regulate and license psilocybin-assisted therapy centers. Had Hobbs signed the bill, it would have opened the door to psilocybin (commonly known as magic mushrooms) for therapeutic use in a controlled, therapeutic setting.

SB1570 would have allowed persons who wanted to try mushrooms as a therapy for things like PTSD, depression, and hospice care. Right now they can’t because the DEA has classified it as a Schedule I substance.

Unlike ketamine (which is legal for medical use and has shown efficacy in treating severe depression), psilocybin’s Schedule I classification means the federal government believes it has no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, severely limiting its availability for research and therapeutic purposes.

See: Biden Administration to Reschedule Cannabis Under the Controlled Substances Act

During committee hearings, numerous advocates highlighted the growing body of evidence suggesting that psilocybin (mushrooms) can provide significant relief for individuals suffering from things like PTSD, depression and hospice care (where conventional treatments have failed).

For now, psilocybin will remain inaccessible for many who might benefit from it, and people seeking relief through psilocybin have no legal way access the substance for medical use (in Arizona).

Governor Hobbs’ veto statement focused on her concern about the potential risks and the current lack of comprehensive regulatory structures for mushroom treatments and emphasized the need for more robust safety protocols and clearer scientific backing before allowing its therapeutic use.

Psilocybin research will continue using $5M in funding from last fiscal year under the oversight of Arizona’s new Psilocybin Research Advisory Council. Perhaps that research will provide the governor with the data she’s looking for to change her mind about mushroom’s potential therapeutic uses.

Hobbs felt differently about SB1677 and signed that measure, which would approve MDMA (ecstasy/molly) for treatment of PTSD in Arizona IF the FDA approves the drug (like psilocybin, MDMA is currently a Schedule I drug). The newly signed SB1677 also authorizes workers’ compensation coverage for MDMA (ecstasy/molly) treatment for firefighters and law enforcement under certain conditions (and only after FDA authorization).