While many American states are still debating cannabis and psychedelics, Louisiana is opting for a striking new approach.
Legislators have approved a proposal for a pilot program on psychedelic therapy, using funds from national opioid settlements to finance scientific research and clinical studies. The program focuses on treatments with psilocybin, ibogaine, and now also MDMA, among others.
The proposal does not legalize psychedelics for recreational use. Instead, it should support hospitals, universities, and research centers in controlled clinical trials into treatments for addiction, PTSD, depression, and other hard-to-treat mental disorders.
It is noteworthy that both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved the proposal without dissenting votes. The bill is now with the governor for further consideration.
Proponents view it as an innovative way to use a portion of the billions of dollars from opioid settlements for new treatment methods. Critics point out that more scientific research is needed before these therapies can be applied on a large scale.
While psychedelics were for years exclusively associated with recreational use, more and more governments are nowadays looking at potential medical applications. Louisiana now appears to be joining that growing movement.
