New Mexico Moves Closer to Legalizing Supervised Psilocybin Use

New Mexico has taken a significant step forward in exploring psychedelic medicine, particularly in the therapeutic use of psilocybin. On March 12, 2025, the state Senate approved Senate Bill 219, known as the Medical Psilocybin Act, with a strong bipartisan vote of 33-4. If this bill passes the state’s House of Representatives, New Mexico will join Oregon and Colorado as one of the few states to legalize the supervised use of psilocybin for medical purposes.

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Alert: New Mexico Is a Step Closer to Legalizing the Supervised Use of Psilocybin

About the authors
Al Windham
Madeline Campbell, Ph.D.

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New Mexico has taken a significant step forward in exploring psychedelic medicine, particularly in the therapeutic use of psilocybin. On March 12, 2025, the state Senate approved Senate Bill 219, known as the Medical Psilocybin Act, with a strong bipartisan vote of 33-4. If this bill passes the state’s House of Representatives, New Mexico will join Oregon and Colorado as one of the few states to legalize the supervised use of psilocybin for medical purposes.

Psilocybin, a naturally occurring compound found in certain mushroom species, has gained attention in recent years for its potential as a treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders. Research has shown that psilocybin can offer relief for conditions like anxiety, major treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and even substance use disorders when used in a supervised, therapeutic setting.

What sets psilocybin apart from other treatments is its ability to address deep-rooted mental health challenges by encouraging shifts in perspective and emotional processing. This has made it particularly promising for patients who have not responded well to conventional methods like medication or therapy alone.

Senate Bill 219, if enacted, aims to pave the way for a structured and closely monitored psilocybin program in New Mexico. The bill authorizes licensed physicians to prescribe psilocybin to patients with qualifying conditions, including those suffering from treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and individuals receiving end-of-life care. Importantly, the state’s Department of Health could also approve additional conditions that may benefit from psilocybin-assisted therapy.

The proposed legislation ensures clarity on what qualifies as psilocybin. It defines it as “the naturally occurring psychedelic compound 4-phosphoryloxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine,” explicitly excluding synthetic or analog versions from the definition.

The bill also outlines plans to create a nine-member Medical Psilocybin Advisory Board. This board would play a crucial role in shaping the program by identifying additional medical conditions that might benefit from psilocybin, recommending proper formulations, and establishing dosage standard.

If the Medical Psilocybin Act becomes law, it could open new doors for patients seeking innovative, effective treatment options. From a public health standpoint, this initiative has the potential to reshape perceptions of psychedelics by positioning psilocybin as a valid medical tool rather than a recreational drug.

This legislation could also make New Mexico a leader in psychedelic medicine, encouraging further scientific research and destigmatizing conversations about mental health. For healthcare providers, it offers a new therapeutic modality, expanding their ability to support patients with complex mental health conditions.

The potential enactment of the Medical Psilocybin Act could not only help countless patients in need of effective therapies but also inspire other states to follow suit. For now, all eyes are on the House of Representatives as New Mexico inches closer to joining Oregon and Colorado in legalizing the supervised medical use of psilocybin.

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