TRENTON, NEW JERSEY — New Jersey lawmakers moved a step closer to legalizing psilocybin therapy Monday as the Assembly health committee advanced a bill granting adults over 21 regulated access to the psychedelic compound. Supporters told lawmakers the treatment could offer relief to people with depression, PTSD, addiction and other conditions that have resisted traditional therapies.
The proposal would make New Jersey one of the few states to legalize therapeutic psilocybin. Lawmakers heard emotional testimony from advocates, veterans, and mental health groups, who urged legislators to look past the drug’s recreational stigma and focus on clinical trial data cited in ongoing FDA studies. Neal Usatin of New Jersey for Fungi and Plant Medicine called the evidence “clear,” arguing that psilocybin is safe, non-habit-forming, and often more effective than antidepressants.
Veterans also pressed for action. Stacy and Jeffrey Swanson, speaking on behalf of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, described psilocybin-assisted treatment as life-changing after years of unsuccessful conventional care. Assemblywoman Melinda Kane, whose son was killed while serving in Afghanistan, voted for the bill, noting suicide rates among veterans remain “devastating.”
Some Republican members questioned moving ahead before the FDA rules on synthetic psilocybin, which may receive approval in late 2026 or early 2027. Others flagged the proposal’s $6 million price tag during a tight budget year.
The bill now moves to the Assembly appropriations committee. It has already cleared two Senate committees, but lawmakers must act before the legislative session ends in January.
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