Bill Text: HI SCR227 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Health To Convene A Medicinal Psilocybin And Psilocin Working Group To Examine The Medicinal And Therapeutic Effects Of Psilocybin And Psilocin And Develop A Long-term Strategic Plan To Ensure The Availability Of Medicinal Psilocybin And Psilocin Or Psilocybin-based And Psilocin-based Products That Are Safe, Accessible, And Affordable For Eligible Adult Patients.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-16 - Referred to HTH. [SCR227 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2022-SCR227-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

227

THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A MEDICINAL PSILOCYBIN AND PSILOCIN WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE MEDICINAL AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF PSILOCYBIN AND PSILOCIN AND DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGIC PLAN TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF MEDICINAL PSILOCYBIN AND PSILOCIN OR PSILOCYBIN-BASED AND PSILOCIN-BASED PRODUCTS THAT ARE SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND AFFORDABLE FOR ELIGIBLE ADULT PATIENTS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, mental health conditions are treated in various ways depending on the condition and can include medication, therapy, and psychosocial services; and

 

     WHEREAS, these treatments, while effective for certain conditions and patients, do not treat all mental health conditions; and

 

     WHEREAS, psilocybin and psilocin occur naturally in certain species of mushrooms; and

 

     WHEREAS, psilocybin and psilocin are natural chemicals that can activate serotonin receptors in the brain; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies conducted by nationally and internationally recognized medical institutions indicate that psilocybin and psilocin have shown efficacy, tolerability, and safety in the treatment of a variety of mental health conditions, including addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, and end-of-life psychological distress; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Food and Drug Administration has determined that preliminary clinical evidence indicates that psilocybin and psilocin may demonstrate substantial improvement over available therapies for major depressive disorder and severe treatment-resistant depression and has granted a breakthrough therapy designation for a treatment that uses psilocybin and psilocin as a therapy these mental health conditions; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawaii has a shortage of mental health professionals and should actively consider novel, innovative, and safe solutions to treat its citizens; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to convene a Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group, to be placed in the Department of Health for administrative purposes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group is requested to examine:

 

     (1)  Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, administrative rules, and procedures regarding the medicinal use of psilocybin and psilocin;

 

     (2)  Available medical, psychological, and scientific studies, research, and other information relating to the safety and efficacy of psilocybin and psilocin in treating mental health conditions; and

 

     (3)  Requirements, specifications, and guidelines for a medical professional to prescribe and provide psilocybin and psilocin to patients; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, if feasible, the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group is requested to develop a long-term strategic plan to ensure the availability of medicinal psilocybin and psilocin or psilocybin-based and psilocin-based products that are safe, accessible, and affordable for adults twenty-one years of age or older; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following individuals, or their respective designees, are requested to serve as members of the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group:

 

     (1)  The Director of Health, who is requested to serve as chair of the working group;

 

     (2)  The Attorney General;

 

     (3)  Faculty members from the University of Hawaii System with relevant scientific expertise;

 

     (4)  The chairs of the Senate and House of Representatives standing committees whose subject matter purview is primarily responsible for reviewing legislation relating to health and the Judiciary;

 

     (5)  A clinical practitioner licensed to prescribe psychotropic medication in the State of Hawaii;

 

     (6)  A representative of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, to be invited by the chair of the working group;

 

     (7)  A representative of the Clarity Project, to be invited by the chair of the working group;

 

     (8)  A representative of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, to be invited by the chair of the working group; and

 

     (9)  A representative of the public with psychedelics‑related industry experience, to be invited by the chair of the working group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chair of the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group may invite other interested parties with relevant experience to join the working group, provided that the working group does not exceed fifteen members; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group is requested to submit a preliminary report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023, and a final report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Medicinal Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group be dissolved on July 1, 2024; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Attorney General, and President of the University of Hawaii.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Medical Psilocybin and Psilocin Working Group; Department of Health

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