At the NPA our Advocacy includes developing and leading bold, creative efforts, nationwide, to create state and federal safe harbor for access to Psychedelic-Assisted Care (PAC). See all our latest information and updates to further the legislative agenda here.
Our Articles by Topic
Psilocybin Rescheduling
In the ongoing battle to enable access to Psychedelic-Assisted Care (PAC), a significant effort is focused on moving psilocybin off Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which severely restricts its use to research purposes only.
In February 2022, we collaborated with Dr. Aggarwal to petition the DEA to reschedule psilocybin to Schedule II, aiming to facilitate therapeutic access for patients grappling with anxiety and depression in life-threatening circumstances.
The DEA initially denied the petition. In response, we took action by filing a lawsuit in federal court challenging the denial as improper.
In October 2023, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the DEA’s rejection of our petition was improper, and remanded the Petition for proper handling.
This ruling marks a crucial step toward improving access to psilocybin for those in need of its therapeutic benefits. We continue to work with the DEA, and the other involved federal agencies, to move the rescheduling forward.
If you’re interested to, please:
Right To Try
Our quest for fresh consideration for those facing life-threatening conditions and terminal diagnoses.
State and federal Right to Try (RTT) laws recognize the urgent needs of patients facing life-threatening conditions, enabling them access to investigational drugs that have successfully undergone phase I clinical trials and remain under investigation.
Clinical trials show that a single guided session of psilocybin assisted therapy can bring immediate, substantial and sustained relief from anxiety and depression at end of life.
The National Psychedelic Association’s Director of Advocacy represents a Seattle palliative care physician and several patients suffering from advanced cancer, seeking access to psilocybin under Right To Try (RTT) laws.
This effort also required federal litigation to clarify the DEA’s obligation to accommodate RTT laws and we continue to make use of the RTT laws in a synergistic manner with the rescheduling effort.
If psilocybin is moved to Schedule II, it will be accessible to clinicians for use with their patients with life-threatening conditions prior to FDA approval.
If you’re interested to, please:
Advocacy to Ensure that Homebound Oregonians Have Access
Supporting those needing access beyond dedicated facilities.
Kathryn Tucker, our Special Advocacy Advisor, played a pivotal role in the campaign to pass the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act(PSA).
That was the nation’s first ballot measure legalizing adult use of and access to psilocybin under state law.
Kathryn’s renowned advocacy work focused on the rights of terminally ill patients, positioned her as a leader who could galvanize the end-of-life care community in support of the initiative.
The PSA highlights the findings of esteemed medical institutions, acknowledging that psilocybin demonstrates effectiveness, tolerability, and safety in treating various mental health issues, particularly for individuals navigating end-of-life.
Unfortunately, the PSA was drafted with a barrier to access for homebound disabled and dying Oregonians, limiting access to delivery at licensed Healing Centers. Kathryn Tucker has been leading litigation to ensure reasonable accommodation under state and federal disability rights laws is provided.
If you’re interested to, please:
New Mexico, New Territory
New Mexico is the latest state to pass legislation for Psychedelic-Assisted Care (PAC). Our Special Advocacy Advisor was pivotal in that outcome.
Kathryn Tucker was a member of the small team advising legislators and advocates seeking enactment of the New Mexico Medical Psilocybin Act (MPA).
This is the nation’s first legislatively adopted state psychedelic law.
Kathryn was able to develop and bring forward support from the end-of-life care community for this pioneering legislation.
Kathryn is advising on preparedness to defend this law should it face federal threat.
As a leader of the litigation defending a state medical statute in Oregon from federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) enforcement, Kathryn brings specialized expertise to this matter.
If you’re interested to, please:
Our Most Recent Articles
-
100+ Joined Our Virtual Community Session Recently, Where we Shared Critical Infrastructure Advancements
On December 16th, the National Psychedelics Association (the NPA) convened a well-attended virtual briefing over Zoom, bringing together facilitators, service center operators, training providers, and allied professionals from across Oregon, Colorado, and even beyond. The session…
-
Urgent Action on Psilocybin Petition
RE: Psilocybin Rescheduling Petition, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, AIMS Institute Dear Assistant Administrator Prevoznik: This is in further follow up to your letter to Dr. Sunil Aggarwal of the AIMS Institute, dated February 3, 2025, addressing…
-
Freedom to Heal Act
The Freedom to Heal Act “creates a narrowly tailored DEA registration process exclusively for physicians to treat Right to Try eligible patients in clinical settings with qualifying Schedule I investigational therapies — such as MDMA…
-
Fighting for Psilocybin Access: Inside the Right-to-Try and Rescheduling Effort
As co-counsel in the federal psilocybin rescheduling case, Kathryn Tucker has witnessed firsthand the challenges, and opportunities in reforming outdated drug policy. In this conversation with Psychedelics Today, she shares the inside story of our…
-
From the Road to PS25
The National Psychedelics Association (the NPA) hits the road: lessons from Oregon’s trailblazers As the first state to roll out legal psilocybin-based care, Oregon is home to pioneers in Psychedelic-Assisted Care (PAC). At the NPA,…
-
Psilocybin Rescheduling
In the ongoing battle to enable access to psilocybin assisted therapy, a significant effort is focused on moving it off Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which severely restricts its use to research purposes…
-
Right to Try (RTT) Laws: A Battle with Multiple Fronts
We have been leading efforts to open access to the investigational psychedelic drug psilocybin for therapeutic use for patients with life threatening illness through state and federal Right to Try (RTT) laws.[2] RTT laws recognize…
-
Update re AIMS et al. v. DEA: DEA Doubles Down in Denying Dying Patients Access to Psilocybin
In January 2021, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, a respected palliative care physician and founder of the Advanced Integrative Medical Science (“AIMS”) Institute in Seattle, sought authorization from the DEA to obtain psilocybin for therapeutic use with…
-
Urgent Action on Psilocybin Petition
RE: Psilocybin Rescheduling Petition, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, AIMS Institute Dear Assistant Administrator Prevoznik: This…
-
Freedom to Heal Act
The Freedom to Heal Act “creates a narrowly tailored DEA registration process exclusively for…
-
Fighting for Psilocybin Access: Inside the Right-to-Try and Rescheduling Effort
As co-counsel in the federal psilocybin rescheduling case, Kathryn Tucker has witnessed firsthand the…
-
From the Road to PS25
The National Psychedelics Association (the NPA) hits the road: lessons from Oregon’s trailblazers As…
-
Psilocybin Rescheduling
In the ongoing battle to enable access to psilocybin assisted therapy, a significant effort…
-
Right to Try (RTT) Laws: A Battle with Multiple Fronts
We have been leading efforts to open access to the investigational psychedelic drug psilocybin…
-
Update re AIMS et al. v. DEA: DEA Doubles Down in Denying Dying Patients Access to Psilocybin
In January 2021, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal, a respected palliative care physician and founder of…
-
At DEA’s Door: The Battle to Open Access to Psilocybin Therapy for Peace and Comfort at the End of Life
On Mother’s Day 2022, my client Erinn Baldeschwiler, a young mother of two with…
