Leading research from prestigious institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU indicates that psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies can be highly effective for mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The FDA has recognized psilocybin as a "breakthrough therapy" for treating depression, signaling its potential to offer significant improvements compared to existing treatments.
Psilocybin therapies work differently from traditional mental health medications, which often need to be taken daily and can have side effects. In contrast, psilocybin is typically administered in a controlled environment, only a few times a year. Under the ADAPT-WA Initiative, adults 21 and older will be able to access psilocybin under the supervision of a licensed facilitator at designated locations.
Studies show that psilocybin can be beneficial for veterans struggling with PTSD, patients with terminal illnesses, and individuals experiencing depression and anxiety. The ADAPT-WA Initiative will create access to psilocybin services for any adult 21 and older, offering hope and healing where other treatments may have failed and will also allow for small amounts of other entheogens to be decriminalized such as psilocybin, ayahuasca and natural DMT to be used for personal, ceremonial, and health-related use.
The ADAPT-WA Initiative will establish a regulated system for safe and supervised access to psilocybin. The law requires the Washington Department of Health to oversee the program, ensuring that psilocybin administration occurs in licensed service centers or other approved locations, such as veterans’ organizations, houses of worship, or private residences. The program includes stringent training requirements for facilitators, including extensive hands-on training and supervision.
No, the ADAPT-WA Initiative establishes a therapeutic program for the supervised use of psilocybin by licensed facilitators. It does not create a commercial market or permit the recreational sale of psilocybin or other natural medicines.
Under the ADAPT-WA Initiative, adults 21 and older can access psilocybin through a state-regulated system designed to ensure safe and facilitated use. Psilocybin sessions will take place at licensed healing centers, healthcare facilities, or other approved locations, always under the guidance of a trained facilitator
The ADAPT-WA Initiative focuses on legalizing therapeutic psilocybin in Washington only. Decriminalization of entheogens would reduce their status as a state-prosecuted crime to “the lowest level of law-enforcement priorities.”
The implementation period for the ADAPT-WA Initiative is dependent upon its success in moving forward in the next legislative session. The Department of Health will guide the implementation based upon the outcome of the session.
Natural medicines, including psilocybin, have been used for thousands of years by Indigenous cultures for healing, ceremonies, and religious practices. These practices are deeply rooted in traditions that honor the sacred nature of these substances, and today, they continue to play a vital role in many communities worldwide.
The environment is everything that isn't me.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ and other perhaps less frequently asked questions too
In this page we will attempt to capture questions we find are asked often by individuals new to this topic and do our best to provide some concise answers and possibly links for further research into all things of this nature