State lawmakers on Monday heard testimony from researchers and advocates about the therapeutic potential of psilocybin — the compound in “magic mushrooms” that delivers their psychedelic effects. Senate President Nick Scutari (D-Union) introduced a bill last year that would make New Jersey the third state to legalize psilocybin for medical use, and the hearing before the Senate Health Committee was an important first step toward that end.
“I can honestly say that psilocybin healed me both physically and mentally. And in my opinion, would be an injustice to deny access to this lifesaving medicine,” said Joseph McKay, a retired FDNY firefighter. McKay described to the committee how other drugs didn’t work as well as psilocybin did.
Caroline Dorsen, associate dean for clinical partnerships at Rutgers School of Nursing, said, “I was used to hearing people speak about taking substances as ways to check out, to numb the pain or simply to have fun. In contrast, when people spoke about psychedelics, they said that psychedelics did the exact opposite. They did them to face their trauma, they did them to go into their pain in order to heal it.”
The researchers pointed out that psilocybin is not a cure-all, but does help with anxiety, depression, some addiction and even PTSD. They answered questions from senators about possible problems that could come with legalizing it.
