Psychedelics are illegal in the United States
Psychedelics are illegal in the United States due to a combination of historical, cultural, and political factors.
In the 1960s, there was a surge of interest in psychedelics, particularly LSD, among countercultural groups such as the hippies. This led to increased public concern about the potential risks associated with these drugs, including the risk of psychosis, suicide, and other forms of self-harm.
In response to this concern, the US government passed the Controlled Substances Act in 1970, which placed LSD and other psychedelics in the most restrictive category of controlled substances, Schedule I. This classification means that these drugs are considered to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
Since then, there has been limited research into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, which has further reinforced the perception that these drugs are highly dangerous and not suitable for medical use.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to re-examine the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, and some states and cities in the US have started to decriminalize or legalize these drugs for certain purposes, such as medical research or personal use.
Oregon
Oregon regulators have approved the nation’s first-ever psilocybin production license under a novel state-based regulatory framework for broad access to the psychedelic that voters approved in 2020
Arizona
Arizona lawmakers have chosen to support psilocybin research, with efforts focused on gathering information that could advise long-term policy reforms surrounding the substance’s availability for psychedelic-assisted therapy. Link
Missouri
The Missouri House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, approved a bill directing the state health department to facilitate research into psilocybin as a treatment for serious mental health conditions.
Hawaii
April 13, 2023 -The Hawaii Senate has approved a bill HB1340, a proposed law that would create an advisory board to explore and prepare for regulations around federal approval of “breakthrough therapies” like psychedelics.
The bill, originally sponsored by Rep. Adrian Tam (D), had already passed through the House and was in the Senate for possible amendments. The bill would require the state Department of Health (DOH) to establish a Breakthrough Therapy Designation Advisory Council.
Psychedelics are illegal in Australia
Psychedelics, such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are illegal in Australia under the federal law, the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995. The reasons for their illegality are similar to those in other countries, including concerns about their potential for harm and abuse.
Australia, like many other countries, has a history of drug use and drug-related problems, which has led to the development of strict drug policies aimed at reducing drug-related harm and criminality. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a surge in psychedelic use in Australia, which led to concerns about the potential dangers associated with these drugs, such as the risk of psychosis, self-harm, and other negative effects on mental health.
In response to these concerns, the Australian government passed the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, which placed LSD and other psychedelics in the most restrictive category of controlled substances, Schedule 9. This classification means that these drugs are considered to have no therapeutic use and a high potential for abuse.
Since then, there has been limited research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics in Australia, although there has been growing interest in recent years. Some Australian-based researchers and clinicians have been advocating for a re-evaluation of the legal status of psychedelics and have been conducting studies into their potential use in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction. However, the legal and regulatory hurdles to conducting such research are significant, and the legal status of psychedelics in Australia remains highly restrictive.
Australia has announced it will officially recognize MDMA and psilocybin as medicines.
On February 3, 2023, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)—the government authority responsible for regulating medicines—announced that starting July 1, 2023, authorized psychiatrists will be able to prescribe MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, for treatment-resistant depression. Link
Psychedelics are not completely illegal in Spain
Psychedelics are not completely illegal in Spain. In fact, some psychedelics, such as ayahuasca and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are legal in certain contexts, such as religious or therapeutic use.
Many other psychedelics, such as LSD, DMT, and MDMA, are classified as illegal drugs in Spain, as they are in many other countries. The reasons for this classification are complex and varied, but generally stem from concerns about the potential for harm to individuals who use these drugs, as well as the potential for these drugs to be abused.
In Spain, as in other countries, the legal status of psychedelics is subject to ongoing debate and discussion, with some advocates arguing that these substances have potential therapeutic benefits and should be more widely available, while others maintain that they pose too great a risk to individuals and society to be legal.
Psychedelics, such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are illegal in the UK
Psychedelics, such as LSD, DMT, and psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are illegal in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The reasons for their illegality in the UK are similar to those in other countries, including concerns about their potential for harm and abuse.
Like the United States, the UK saw a surge in psychedelic use during the 1960s and early 1970s, particularly among countercultural groups. This led to concerns about the potential dangers associated with these drugs, such as the risk of psychosis, self-harm, and other negative effects on mental health.
In response to these concerns, the UK government passed the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, which placed LSD and other psychedelics in the most restrictive category of controlled substances, Class A. This classification means that these drugs are considered to have no medical use and to pose a high risk of harm and abuse.
Since then, there has been limited research into the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics in the UK, although there has been growing interest in recent years. Some UK-based researchers and clinicians have been advocating for a re-evaluation of the legal status of psychedelics and have been conducting studies into their potential use in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Psychedelics are not completely illegal in the Netherlands.
Psychedelics are not completely illegal in the Netherlands. In fact, some psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are technically illegal but are tolerated by the authorities in small amounts and in certain settings, such as “smart shops” that sell these substances for personal use.
However, other psychedelics, such as LSD and DMT, are classified as illegal drugs in the Netherlands, and their possession, sale, and use are punishable by law.
The reasons for the illegality of psychedelics in the Netherlands are similar to those in other countries, including concerns about their potential for harm and abuse. The Netherlands, like many other countries, has a history of drug use and drug-related problems, which has led to the development of strict drug policies aimed at reducing drug-related harm and criminality.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement in the Netherlands to re-examine the legal status of psychedelics, particularly in light of the potential therapeutic benefits of these substances. Some Dutch researchers and clinicians have been conducting studies into the use of psychedelics in treating mental health conditions, and there have been calls for a more liberal approach to the regulation of these substances in the Netherlands and elsewhere.
