The governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, said that he will be allowing a bill to create a state fund to provide free of charge access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to take effect even without his signature.
Instead of signing the bill into a law, Governor Hogan included the legislation in a list of measures which will be enacted without his proactive support. This bill was introduced by Senator Sarah Elfreth and later it was passed unanimously by both legislative chambers then sent to the Governor’s desk.
The psychedelics bill will create a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury Alternative Therapies Fund. According to the bill, money from the fund must be used to study the use of alternative therapies for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.
If the bill becomes law, then it will provide cost-free access of psychedelics to eligible war veterans. In addition, the bill will require the state Department of health to periodically consult with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Johns Hopkins, the University of Maryland, Sheppard Pratt hospital and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
The purpose of these consultations is to determine ‘the effectiveness of and a method for improving access to alternative therapies for treating traumatic brain injury and PTSD in veterans. The state department will also consult on the appropriate uses of the fund that further the fund’s purpose.
The state department will submit a report to the governor and legislation with the initial findings and recommendations by December 1, 2022. According to the bill, the recommendations will be focused on budgetary, legislative or regulatory changes to expand access to alternative therapies for veterans with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.
