A few days ago, the Oregon Health Authority released a set of rules governing products testing and training programs for Oregon’s therapeutic psilocybin program which is slated to start next year.
Back in February, the Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) section released a draft of these rules. Thereafter, the authorities gave a public comment period for the public to bring out their input on the matter which would be used when coming up with final set of rules.
The recently released letter indicated that the section ‘received approximately 200 written and verbal comments during the month of April, the Oregon Psilocybin Services used the comments to refine the drafts rules.
These rules go down as the first of rules for a program slated to come into effect starting January 2023. Another set of rules will be considered in the fall and adopted by December 31. The final rules will includes limits on what type of mushrooms can be consumed.
According to the letter by the section, manufacturers will only be allowed to cultivate or possess one specific species of fungi which in this case is Psilocybe cubensis.
“To avoid the risk associated with deadly, poisonous look-alikes and the potential for wood lover’s paralysis and animal-borne pathogens, OPS has upheld this recommendation in final rules,” read the letter.
The Oregon Psilocybin Services also pointed out that some people requested for an expanded product delivery methods to increase accessibility of psilocybin.
“OPS is unable to accommodate this request due to the language used in the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act. The Act consistently uses the terms ‘consume’ and ‘consumption’ when referring to psilocybin products and administration sessions. The common meaning of consume means ‘to eat, drink or ingest.’ After evaluating the issue, OPS determined that the text of the measure limits psilocybin products to those products that can be consumed orally, and the rules reflect this understanding,” said OPS.
