Psilocybin: Growing Mainstream Acceptance in the US

Strong Bipartisan Support for Psilocybin

Psilocybin and other magic mushrooms continue to edge their way into the mainstream of US public consciousness.

Now, definitive proof of this edging came out in a study published earlier this month for AJOB Neuroscience, which shows strong bipartisan support for psilocybin to treat mental illness and promote general well-being.

 

Legal Status of Psilocybin in the US

Federal Classification and State-Level Exceptions

Despite its growing popularity, psilocybin is still a Schedule I controlled substance, meaning it’s illegal at the federal level.

However, states like Oregon and Colorado have opened the door to legality within a medical setting, and other states like Massachusetts may soon follow suit with new proposed legislation hitting the docket soon.

Shifting Public Attitudes Toward Psilocybin

Ethical Perspectives on Psilocybin Use

This indicates that popular attitudes toward plant psychedelics may be shifting in a positive direction.

The recently published AJOB study backs this up, aimed to measure ethical perspectives on supervised psilocybin use for mental illness and overall wellness.

 

The Study: Exploring Public Opinion on Psilocybin

Study Parameters and Participant Demographics

Researchers drew from a sample of 795 people across the US between the ages of 18 to 92, the median age being 44.

The survey sample contained an impressively diverse group of multiple races, genders, and political leanings, so as not to skew results toward any one faction or identity.

Focused on Supervised, Medical Use

Note that the survey used in the study only examined psilocybin treatment within the confines of a supervised, medicinal environment, aka not unregulated home use.

 

Scenarios Explored in the Study

Two Hypothetical Scenarios

Here’s how it went down:

Participants were first given background information about what psilocybin is as well as detailed descriptions of its effects.

They were also notified of Oregon’s new law permitting supervised psilocybin use within a medical setting and were told to envision a similar law playing out at the federal level, but in two distinct scenarios:

1. Psilocybin is used as a drug to treat mental illness and psychological problems.
2. Psilocybin is used by healthy people who simply want to improve their well-being.

Evaluating Moral Acceptability

From there, participants were made to evaluate the ‘moral status’ of a person’s decision to use psilocybin along these two trajectories.

 

Key Findings from the Study

Widespread Moral Acceptance

• 89% of participants in the study considered psilocybin treatment for mental health as morally acceptable.
• 85% of participants also agreed that using psilocybin to promote general well-being is considered morally acceptable.

Bipartisan Support and Demographic Variations

Besides the overwhelming support of controlled psilocybin treatment in general, of note was strong bipartisan agreement.

At large, both liberals and conservatives were found to support psilocybin use in a clinical setting.

However, slight variations appeared along political lines and age groups, with older participants and conservatives a little less likely to support psilocybin treatment compared to younger, more liberal demographics.

 

The Future of Psychedelic Medicines

Legislative and Social Progress

Overall, the study reflects a growing desire of many communities in the US to re-examine their legal classifications of psilocybin and other plant psychedelics, especially as more research comes out as to how to safely administer them.

Examples of medical legality for psilocybin in Oregon and Colorado, potential similar legislation on the docket in a couple of other states, and the move to lessen the legal consequences for personal use in jurisdictions including Washington D.C. and various cities in California bode well for the future of medicinal psychedelics in the US.

A Promising but Uncertain Future

Only time will tell to what extent the medical community will accept psilocybin and other psychedelic plant medicines as viable treatments for mental health.

But so far, the future looks promising.

Further Reading

For more information on the study examined for this article, you can read it in full here:

Strong Bipartisan Support for Controlled Psilocybin Use as Treatment or Enhancement in a Representative Sample of US Americans: Need for Caution in Public Policy Persists by Julian D. Sandbrink, Kyle Johnson, Maureen Gill, David B. Yaden, Julian Savulescu, Ivar R. Hannikainen, and Brian D. Earp.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. CBD and THC products are not currently evaluated or approved by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult a healthcare professional before using these products, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications. Check your local laws regarding CBD and THC usage, as regulations vary by jurisdiction