Senator Ron Kochi introduced Senate Bill 1454 on January 25, which was passed unanimously in Hawaii Senate Committee on Health and Human Services (HHS) on February 6 invoice becomes law, it will establish a “Psilocybin Therapeutic Working Group” (run by the Office of Wellness and Resilience). [OWR]) to examine the medical and therapeutic effects of psilocybin-based or psilocybin-based products in relation to mental health including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and end-of-life psychiatric disorder.
The group will also be tasked with evaluating how markets such as regulators in Oregon and Colorado are approaching their psilocybin programs, with the goal of developing a comprehensive approach to Hawaii. In effect, the venue will ensure that access to psilocybin is safe, accessible, and affordable for patients.
During the February 6 hearing, several testimonies were presented in favor of passing the bill to allow psilocybin access. HHS has collected these testimonials on a 117-page document, which featured a variety of speakers, beginning with a statement from Tia Roberts Hartsock, Executive Director of OWR with the Governor’s Office. “As the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to play out in our daily lives, promising interventions for mental health disorders must be included in conversations about trauma,” books. “To make informed decisions about how we should approach resources and attention to complex social issues such as mental health disorders, research must be examined. OWR supports the purpose of SB1454 to create a working group to make recommendations on their findings on the potential benefits of the therapeutic use of psilocybin.”
Hawaii Board Chairman Nikos Liverens also expressed support from the Hawaii Drug Policy Forum, for the bill. “Hawaii should seek to work more proactively in creating a climate conducive to allowing qualified medical professionals to use psilocybin as a therapeutic tool and to those who could benefit from its supervised use.” Leverns said.
Patients who have had personal experiences with plant medicine remedies have also shared how the bill can help countless others. said Willie Gray, CEO of War veterans. “Veterans see firsthand the healing potential of these ancient medications day in and day out, and we advocate strongly for their decriminalization on behalf of a nation of veterans suffering the effects of postwar. As a group, we deserve an effective path toward recovery; as a group, we simply want a return to Home. This is bigger than the failed war on drugs. Lives are lost every day.”
This year has been fruitful for Hawaii lawmakers looking into botanical medicine and legalization. On January 11, Rep. Jenny Kabila spoke about introducing a bill for adult use of cannabis. “We all know, and Hawaiians know, that it’s time to legalize recreational cannabis use for adults in Hawaii. This year we stand on the brink of history,” Capella stated. “Following the recommendations of a task force dedicated to addressing cannabis policy, we now have a roadmap for the legalization of recreational cannabis in our islands.” Kapela has not yet submitted its bill, but has made it clear that it will include a program of mass erasure. “Social equality. People. This is the essence of our proposal,” I explained.
The people of Hawaii recently showed their support for the legalization of cannabis with a poll conducted by the US Department of Defense Hawaii Cannabis Industry Association. the scan detection 52% of Hawaiians support legalization (with 31% saying they oppose).
