Too many New Yorkers are suffering

New York is facing an epidemic of mental health, substance abuse, chronic pain, and suicide, all exacerbated by the pandemic. Countless New Yorkers are suffering from mental health challenges and conditions, at least 1 in 5 New Yorkers live with chronic pain, and every year we lose thousands of New Yorkers to overdose and suicide. It is abundantly and tragically clear that the current approaches to treating these crises aren’t working well enough.

Psychedelic Medicine can help

People are increasingly seeking this centuries-old alternative approach: Psychedelic medicine. Psychedelics include psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, ayahuasca, DMT, MDMA, ketamine, ibogaine, and others. A growing body of research from many of the top research institutions in the world, clearly indicate the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy for treating a wide range of mental health conditions including depression​, substance abuse​, end-of-life anxiety​, PTSD, and eating disorders, as well as chronic pain conditions such as cluster headaches and migraines. A growing number of practitioners in the healthcare, therapy, and recovery fields are aware that they are unjustly prevented from accessing psychedelic medicines and treatment modalities by failed, unjust, and racist Drug War policies, including the Controlled Substances Act and Rockefeller Drug Laws. 
  

Psychedelic Medicine is becoming more accessible across the country

Psychedelic  medicine  is becoming more legal, accessible, and acceptable across the country. Well over a dozen cities across the country, including Washington DC, Detroit, Oakland, and Ann Arbor have passed laws decriminalizing the possession, use and sharing of naturally occurring psychedelics. Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, Connecticut, and Colorado voters have passed legislation authorizing access to psilocybin. On a federal level, the FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to specific psychedelic treatments. And in Congress, there is a bipartisan Psychedelic Caucus dedicated to “...address(ing) ways to alleviate the national mental health crisis through psychedelic science and research.”. 

New York can  expand access to Psychedelic Medicine

New York lawmakers are considering multiple approaches to expanding safe and equitable access to psychedelic medicines, particularly psilocybin. Legislative proposals have included creating a regulated medical pathway for people with serious health conditions, expanding opportunities for research and treatment, and reforming criminal laws that currently prevent New Yorkers from accessing or using these medicines.

These approaches are not mutually exclusive. Together, they reflect a growing recognition that New York’s current laws have not kept pace with the science, the experiences of patients and clinicians, or developments taking place in other states. We urge New York lawmakers to support thoughtful, evidence-based policies that create safe and accessible pathways to psilocybin and other psychedelic medicines.

New Yorkers don’t have the opportunity to put measures on the ballot for public vote, so we need every state legislator to be aware of the benefits of psychedelics and support these bills. In order to accomplish this, we’d like to ask you to do three things:

1. Sign this petition if you think psychedelic medicines should be more easily accessible. It’s super quick and easy!
2. Reach out to your state legislators (Assemblymember and Senator), and tell them to support legislation that creates safe, equitable, evidence-based pathways to psychedelic medicines, particularly psilocybin.  You can find your state representatives and their contact information by clicking this link. 
3. Share this petition with your friends, family, and social media following. We need as many voices heard as possible!