What's happening
This bill removes psilocybin from New York's list of Schedule I controlled substances, effectively decriminalizing it.
Why it matters
Potential for Medical Research and Therapy. Removing psilocybin from Schedule I could open the door for more scientific and medical research into its potential therapeutic uses, such as treatments for depression, PTSD, and addiction, which are currently hindered by its classification as a substance with "no accepted medical use."
Impact on Criminal Justice and Policing. Decriminalization would mean that possession and use of psilocybin would no longer be prosecutable under state law, potentially reducing arrests, incarceration, and criminal records related to this substance, and shifting law enforcement resources away from non-violent drug offenses.
Social and Economic Effects. The change could reduce the stigma associated with psilocybin use, particularly for those seeking alternative mental health treatments. It might also eventually pave the way for regulated markets, creating economic opportunities and generating tax revenue, as seen in other states that have decriminalized or regulated psychedelics.
Regulatory and Public Health Considerations. By removing psilocybin from the most restrictive drug category, New York may need to consider new frameworks for education, harm reduction, and possibly future regulation to ensure public safety, especially as usage patterns change in response to decriminalization.
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Who cares
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Decriminalize Psilocybin in NY
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10299
IN ASSEMBLY
April 15, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to decriminalizing psilocybin
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 of subdivision (d) of schedule I of section 3306 of the public health law, paragraphs 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 as added by chapter 664 of the laws of 1985, paragraphs 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 as added by chapter 589 of the laws of 1996, paragraphs 31 and 32 as added by chapter 457 of the laws of 2006, paragraphs 33, 34 and 35 as added by chapter 370 of the laws of 2015 and paragraphs 36, 37 and 38 as added by section 5 of part BB of chapter 57 of the laws of 2018, are amended to read as follows:
(19) [Psilocybin.
(20)] Psilocyn.
[(21)] (20) Tetrahydrocannabinols. Synthetic equivalents of the substances contained in the plant, or in the resinous extractives of cannabis, sp. and/or synthetic substances, derivatives, and their isomers with similar chemical structure and pharmacological activity such as the following:
[/\] delta 1 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers
[/\] delta 6 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and their optical isomers
[/\] delta 3, 4 cis or trans tetrahydrocannabinol, and its optical isomers (since nomenclature of these substances is not internationally standardized, compounds of these structures, regardless of numerical designation of atomic positions covered).
[(22)] (21) Ethylamine analog of phencyclidine. Some trade or other names: N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, (1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine, N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine cyclohexamine, PCE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14673-01-0
A. 10299 2
[(23)] (22) Pyrrolidine analog of phencyclidine. Some trade or other names 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-pyrrolidine; PCPy, PHP.
[(24)] (23) Thiophene analog of phencyclidine. Some trade or other names: 1-{1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl}-piperidine, 2-thienylanalog of phencyclidine, TPCP, TCP.
[(25)] (24) 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
[(26)] (25) 3,4-methylendioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (also known as N-ethyl-alpha-methyl-3,4 (methylenedioxy)) phenethylamine, N-ethyl MDA, MDE, MDEA.
[(27)] (26) N-hydroxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (also known as N-hydroxy-alpha-methyl-3,4 (methylenedioxy)) phenethylamine, and N-hydroxy MDA.
[(28)] (27) 1-{1- (2-thienyl) cyclohexyl} pyrrolidine. Some other names: TCPY.
[(29)] (28) Alpha-ethyltryptamine. Some trade or other names: etryptamine; Monase; Alpha-ethyl-1H-indole-3-ethanamine; 3- (2-aminobutyl) indole; Alpha-ET or AET.
[(30)] (29) 2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine. Some trade or other names: DOET.
[(31)] (30) 4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine. Some trade or other names: 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-aminoethane; alpha-desmethyl DOB; 2C-B, Nexus.
[(32)] (31) 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (2C-T-7), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers.
[(33)] (32) 2-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-methoxybenzyl) ethanamine also known as 25I-NBOMe; 2C-I-NBOMe; 25I; or Cimbi-5.
[(34)] (33) 2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N- (2-methoxybenzyl) ethanamine, also known as 25 CNBOMe; 2C-C-NBOMe; 25C; or Cimbi-82.
[(35)] (34) 2-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-(2- methoxybenzyl) ethanamine, also known as, 25 BNBOMe; 2C-B-NBOMe; Cimbi-36.
[(36)] (35) 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
[(37)] (36) Alpha-methyltryptamine. Some trade or other names: AMT.
[(38)] (37) 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine. Some trade or other names: 5-MeO-DIPT.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.