Washington Senate Panel Advances Psilocybin Therapy Legalization

The Washington State Senate took its first step toward legalizing psilocybin-assisted therapy Tuesday, with the Health & Long-Term Care Committee advancing legislation that would create a regulated framework for adult access to the psychedelic mushroom compound.

Senate Bill 5921, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D), cleared the committee on a voice vote and now moves to the Ways & Means Committee for fiscal review. The measure would establish a licensed therapy system similar to Oregon's voter-approved program, which launched in 2023.

"This is about expanding treatment options for people who haven't found relief through conventional therapies," Salomon said during the hearing, according to committee records. The senator represents the 32nd District, which includes portions of King and Snohomish counties.

Following Oregon's Model

Washington's proposal closely tracks the regulatory structure Oregon implemented after voters passed Measure 109 in 2020. That system requires psilocybin to be administered in licensed facilities under supervision of trained facilitators—not prescribed by doctors or taken home by patients.

The Oregon Health Authority reported issuing 39 facilitator licenses and 11 service center licenses in the program's first year. But high costs—sessions typically run $1,500 to $3,500—have limited access primarily to affluent clients.

Policy analysts watching the Washington bill say state lawmakers appear determined to avoid some of Oregon's early stumbling blocks. "They've had two years to observe what worked and what didn't across the Columbia River," said Mason Marks, a health law professor at Florida State University who studies psychedelic policy. "The question is whether they can build in more equitable access from the start."

The Cannabis Parallel

Washington's consideration of psilocybin comes more than a decade after the state became one of the first to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012. That program generated $559 million in tax revenue in fiscal year 2023, according to the state Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Several cannabis industry operators have expressed interest in the psilocybin space, viewing it as a natural extension of their expertise in regulated psychoactive substances. But the bill would likely prohibit direct crossover—Oregon's rules specifically bar cannabis license holders from obtaining psilocybin licenses to prevent market consolidation.

The legislation also arrives as federal interest in psychedelic therapy grows. The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression in 2018, and multiple Phase 3 clinical trials are underway. COMPASS Pathways reported positive results from a 233-patient study in November, though the company hasn't yet filed for approval.

What's Next

The Ways & Means Committee will need to assess the fiscal impact of standing up a new regulatory program. Oregon allocated roughly $5 million for initial implementation, primarily for staff at the health authority and developing training standards.

Timing matters for Washington's bill. The legislature's 2025 session runs through April 27, giving the measure about two months to clear the budget committee, pass the full Senate, move through the House, and reach Gov. Bob Ferguson's desk. Ferguson, who took office in January, hasn't publicly stated a position on psilocybin legalization.

If enacted, Washington would become the third state to legalize psilocybin services, joining Oregon and Colorado. Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 in 2022, with implementation scheduled to begin in late 2025.

The bill's next hearing in Ways & Means hasn't been scheduled yet. Salomon's office said they're working with the committee to secure a slot before the end of February.

This article is based on original reporting by www.marijuanamoment.net.