Congressman Robert Garcia Introduces the VISIONS Act to Prohibit the Use of Federal Funds to Prosecute Legal Psilocybin (Magic Mushroom) Usage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) introduced the “Validating Independence for State Initiatives on Organic Natural Substances Act of 2023” (VISIONS Act), which protects legal psilocybin/mushroom use from federal law enforcement intervention in any state or locality where psilocybin is legally permitted. Psilocybin treatment is currently legal in Colorado and Oregon, with a bill pending in California to decriminalize personal possession statewide.
“Current federal law lags behind the growing body of evidence that suggests that the psychedelic treatment that psilocybin offers can provide relief for those suffering from anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Here in the U.S. we have countless military and law enforcement veterans who have seen their lives improve thanks to these groundbreaking treatments.” said Congressman Garcia. “The potential benefits of psilocybin have been overlooked for years and my aim is to protect the areas and states that want to delve into the real progress this treatment can offer for people in their communities.”
“For too long, the federal government has perpetuated a broken system that has denied patients access to the therapeutic potential of psilocybin,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “It is time for the federal government to get out of the way of states like Oregon who are making progress.”
Currently, federal law contradicts with many state and local laws regarding psilocybin, which can impose federal barriers to research, usage, distribution, possession, and cultivation of these drugs, despite numerous therapeutic uses. The full text of the bill can be found here.
As former Mayor of Long Beach, Congressman Garcia spearheaded efforts to legalize and tax cannabis while advocating for increased access to quality, affordable health care. This bill capitalizes on former efforts to bridge the gap between mental health care access, drug policy, and social equity.
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