wa-law.org > bill > 2023-24 > SB 5263 > Second Substitute

SB 5263 - Psilocybin ¶

Section 1 ¶

The legislature intends to establish an advisory board, interagency work group, and a task force to provide advice and recommendations on developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for access to regulated psilocybin for Washington residents who are at least 21 years of age.

Section 2 ¶

The legislature declares that the purposes of this chapter are:

To develop a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services become and remain a safe, accessible, and affordable option for all persons 21 years of age and older in this state for whom psilocybin may be appropriate or as part of their indigenous religious or cultural practices;
To protect the safety, welfare, health, and peace of the people of this state by prioritizing this state's limited law enforcement resources in the most effective, consistent, and rational way;
To develop a comprehensive regulatory framework concerning psilocybin products and psilocybin services under state law;
To prevent the distribution of psilocybin products to other persons who are not permitted to possess psilocybin products under this chapter including but not limited to persons under 21 years of age; and
To prevent the diversion of psilocybin products from this state to other states.

Section 3 ¶

This chapter may be known and cited as the Washington psilocybin services act.

Section 4 ¶

The Washington psilocybin advisory board is established within the department of health to provide advice and recommendations to the department of health, the liquor and cannabis board, and the department of agriculture. The Washington psilocybin advisory board shall consist of:
1. Members appointed by the governor as specified in subsection (2) of this section;
2. The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
3. The state health officer or a physician acting as the state health officer's designee;
4. A representative from the department of health who is familiar with public health programs and public health activities in this state; and
5. A designee of the public health advisory board.
The governor shall appoint the following individuals to the Washington psilocybin advisory board:
1. Any four of the following:
  1. A state employee who has technical expertise in the field of public health;
  2. A local health officer;
  3. An individual who is a member of, or who represents, a federally recognized Indian tribe in this state;
  4. An individual who is a member of, or who represents, a body that provides policy advice relating to substance use disorder policy;
2. An individual who is a member of, or who represents, a body that provides policy advice relating to health equity;
1. An individual who is a member of, or who represents, a body that provides policy advice related to palliative care and quality of life; or
2. An individual who represents individuals who provide public health services directly to the public;
1. A person who has knowledge regarding the indigenous or religious use of psilocybin;
2. A psychologist licensed under chapter 18.83 RCW who has professional experience engaging in the diagnosis or treatment of a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition;
3. A physician licensed under chapter 18.71 RCW;
4. A naturopath licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW;
5. An expert in the field of public health who has a background in academia;
6. Any three of the following:
  1. A person who has professional experience conducting scientific research regarding the use of psychedelic compounds in clinical therapy;
  2. A person who has experience in the field of mycology;
  3. A person who has experience in the field of ethnobotany;
  4. A person who has experience in the field of psychopharmacology; or
7. A person who has experience in the field of harm reduction;
8. A person designated by the liquor and cannabis board who has experience working with the cannabis central reporting system developed for tracking the transfer of cannabis items;
9. The attorney general or the attorney general's designee; and
10. One, two, or three at large members.
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1. Members of the Washington psilocybin advisory board shall serve for a term of four years, but at the pleasure of the governor. Before the expiration of the term of a member, the governor shall appoint a successor whose term begins on January 1st of the following year. A member is eligible for reappointment. If there is a vacancy for any cause, the governor shall make an appointment to become immediately effective for the unexpired term.
2. Members of the board described in subsection (1)(b) through (e) of this section are nonvoting ex officio members of the board.
A majority of the voting members of the board constitutes a quorum. Official adoption of advice or recommendations by the Washington psilocybin advisory board requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the board.
The board shall elect one of its voting members to serve as chair.
Until July 1, 2024, the Washington psilocybin advisory board shall meet at least five times a calendar year at a time and place determined by the chair or a majority of the voting members of the board. After July 1, 2024, the board shall meet at least once every calendar quarter at a time and place determined by the chair or a majority of the voting members of the board. The board may meet at other times and places specified by the call of the chair or of a majority of the voting members of the board.
The Washington psilocybin advisory board may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the board.
The Washington psilocybin advisory board may establish committees and subcommittees necessary for the operation of the board.
The members of the Washington psilocybin advisory board may receive reimbursement or an allowance for expenses within amounts appropriated for that specific purpose consistent with RCW 43.03.220.

Section 5 ¶

a. Developing a comprehensive regulatory framework for a regulated psilocybin system, including a process to ensure clean and pesticide free psilocybin products;

b. Reviewing indigenous practices with psilocybin, clinical psilocybin trials, and findings;

c. Reviewing research of medical evidence developed on the possible use and misuse of psilocybin therapy; and

d. Ensuring that a social opportunity program is included within any licensing program created under this chapter to remedy the targeted enforcement of drug-related laws on overburdened communities.

The findings of the psilocybin task force in section 6 of this act must be submitted to the interagency work group created in this section and to the psilocybin advisory board.
The interagency psilocybin work group must submit regular updates to the psilocybin advisory board.

Section 6 ¶

The health care authority must establish a psilocybin task force to provide a report on psilocybin services. The director of the health care authority or the director's designee must be a member of the task force and serve as chair. The task force must also include, without limitation, the following members:
1. The secretary of the department of health or the secretary's designee;
2. The director of the liquor and cannabis board or the director's designee; and
3. As appointed by the director of the health care authority, or the director's designee:
  1. A military veteran, or representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of military veterans, with knowledge of psilocybin;
  2. Up to two recognized indigenous practitioners with knowledge of the use of psilocybin or other psychedelic compounds in their communities;
  3. An individual with expertise in disability rights advocacy;
  4. A public health practitioner;
4. Two psychologists with knowledge of psilocybin, experience in mental and behavioral health, or experience in palliative care;
1. Two mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, or social workers with knowledge of psilocybin, experience in mental and behavioral health, or experience in palliative care;
2. Two physicians with knowledge of psilocybin, experience in mental and behavioral health, or experience in palliative care;
3. A health researcher with expertise in health equity or conducting research on psilocybin;
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 ix. A pharmacologist with expertise in psychopharmacology;
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1. A representative of the cannabis industry with knowledge of regulation of medical cannabis and the cannabis business in Washington;
1. An advocate from the LGBTQIA community with knowledge of the experience of behavioral health issues within that community;
2. A member of the psychedelic medicine alliance of Washington; and
3. Up to two members with lived experience of utilizing psilocybin.
The health care authority must convene the first meeting of the task force by June 30, 2023.
The health care authority must provide a final report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2023, in accordance with RCW 43.01.036. The health care authority may form subcommittees within the task force and adopt procedures necessary to facilitate its work.
The duties of the health care authority in consultation with the task force must include, without limitation, the following activities:
1. Reviewing the available clinical information around specific clinical indications for use of psilocybin, including what co-occurring diagnoses or medical and family histories may exclude a person from use of psilocybin. Any review of clinical information should:
  1. Discuss populations excluded from existing clinical trials;
  2. Discuss factors considered when approval of a medical intervention is approved;
  3. Consider the diversity of participants in clinical trials and the limitations of each study when applying learnings to the population at large; and
  4. Identify gaps in the clinical research for the purpose of identifying opportunities for investment by the state for the University of Washington, Washington State University, or both to consider studying.
2. Reviewing and discussing regulatory structures for clinical use of psilocybin in Washington and other jurisdictions nationally and globally. This should include discussing how various regulatory structures do or do not address concerns around public health and safety the task force has identified.
The department of health, liquor and cannabis board, and department of agriculture must provide subject matter expertise and support to the task force and any subcommittee meetings. For the department of health, subject matter expertise includes an individual or individuals with knowledge and experience in rule making, the regulation of health professionals, and the regulation of health facilities.
Meetings of the task force under this section must be open to participation by members of the public.
Task force members participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization are not entitled to be reimbursed for travel expenses if they are elected officials or are participating on behalf of an employer, governmental entity, or other organization. Any reimbursement for other nonlegislative members is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW.
It is the legislature's intent that the provisions of this section supersede section 211(99), chapter 297, Laws of 2022.
This section expires June 30, 2024.

Section 7 ¶

The duties, functions, and powers of the department of health specified in this chapter include the following:
1. To examine, publish, and distribute to the public available medical, psychological, and scientific studies, research, and other information relating to the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions including, but not limited to, addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, and end-of-life psychological distress, and the potential for psilocybin to promote community, address trauma, and enhance physical and mental wellness;
2. To adopt, amend, or repeal rules necessary to carry out the intent and provisions of this chapter, including rules that the department of health considers necessary to protect the public health and safety;
3. To exercise all powers incidental, convenient, or necessary to enable the department of health to administer or carry out this chapter or any other law of this state that charges the department of health with a duty, function, or power related to psilocybin products and psilocybin services. Powers described in this subsection include, but are not limited to:
  1. Issuing subpoenas;
  2. Compelling the attendance of witnesses;
  3. Administering oaths;
  4. Certifying official acts;
4. Taking depositions as provided by law; and
1. Compelling the production of books, payrolls, accounts, papers, records, documents, and testimony.
The jurisdiction, supervision, duties, functions, and powers held by the department of health under this section are not shared by the pharmacy quality assurance commission under chapter 18.64 RCW.

Section 8 ¶

Medical professionals licensed by the state of Washington shall not be subject to adverse licensing action for recommending psilocybin treatments.

Section 9 ¶

The liquor and cannabis board shall assist and cooperate with the department of health and the department of agriculture to the extent necessary to carry out their duties under this chapter.
The department of agriculture shall assist and cooperate with the department of health to the extent necessary for the department of health to carry out the duties under this chapter.

Section 10 ¶

The department of health, the department of agriculture, and the liquor and cannabis board may not refuse to perform any duty under this chapter on the basis that manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, possessing, or using psilocybin products is prohibited by federal law.

Section 11 ¶

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

Section 13 ¶

Sections 4 through 6 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect immediately.

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