California Senate Bill 803 proposes a psychedelics-assisted facilitation pilot program, and recent activity indicates it has a strong possibility of eventually becoming law.
The bill was introduced in March of 2023 and has seen several amendments over the last year, the latest occurring in late June. The bill originally received a 40-0 vote of approval in the California Senate, and has since been reviewed by many subcommittees, indicating strong interest in passing the bill, albeit with much debate over the details.
Currently, the bill lays the groundwork for public health officers in San Francisco, San Diego, and Santa Cruz to approve up to five treatment centers each, where – under the supervision of licensed physicians – veterans and former first responders can legally be administered psilocybin or psilocin.
Program data would have to be reported to the Legislature by January 1, 2027, influencing decisions on program expansion or modification. This data would include:
- The total number of participants
- The demographic information of each participant
- Reports on outcomes, including any serious adverse events
Public health officers, prior to approving a treatment center, must provide local law enforcement, health officials, and the public with an opportunity to comment in a public meeting.
If enacted, the authority to create this program expires on January 1, 2028.
