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Alaska Government Task Force Recommends Legalizing Psychedelic Therapy Upon FDA Approval

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An Alaska psychedelic task force is recommending that the state move forward with plans to provide regulated access to psychedelics if the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows medical use of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.

According to a law approved in 2024, after working for about a year studying the issue, Alaska Legislative Task Force on Psychedelic Drug Regulation released its findings and recommendations on Thursday.

“Alaska has one of the nation’s highest rates of domestic violence survivors and combat veterans suffering from PTSD, and many Alaskans continue to struggle with traditional treatments,” Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D), the task force’s leader, said in a press release.

“Our approach to these new medical therapies must be properly and independently evaluated so that if the legislature were to make policy changes, we will do so with empirical data in a properly controlled environment,” the senator said.

The panel’s report lists a number of findings based on a review of the scientific literature and expert testimony. This includes findings that some psychedelics do indeed have “potential therapeutic uses” and that “there is a particular focus on the use of these therapies for veterans, survivors of assault and interpersonal violence, and others with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Members emphasized the importance of delivering psychedelic therapies in partnership with “multiple types of providers” to provide comprehensive treatment, rather than leaving it up to the patient.

Among its recommendations, the task force said, “If psychedelic medical therapies are approved by the FDA, the state should take steps to allow them to be used in Alaska, rather than ban their use.”

Alaska regulators should also identify clinical task forces, “whose role is to regularly review up-to-date studies and the evidence base to make recommendations, and rely on those entities to provide ongoing guidance on the use of these therapies,” he said.

“As much as possible, reserve the use of state statute for broad enabling language and essential components of a regulatory structure, and leave most regulatory decisions to the appropriate boards and agencies,” another recommendation reads. “Regulations still require a robust public process to be approved, but they are more predictable and can be updated or changed more easily than statutory amendments that require legislative action.”

“The appropriate parameters for the use of these therapies are likely to change over time as the evidence base matures and FDA approval may be granted for multiple therapies,” he said.

If the FDA continues to approve any psychedelics for medical use, the panel said the Alaska State Board of Medicine should update its guidelines for prescribing controlled substances to include new therapies.

Additionally, if the FDA approves psychedelic drugs and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) federally reschedules substances such as psilocybin, Alaska “should fully reflect federal programming and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), without adding duplicative or conflicting state regulations, and follow the rules for determining whether a DEA license is required.” the report he says

“This approach respects federal science and facilitates access for patients and providers,” he continues.

Additionally, as lawmakers and regulators await a federal decision to advance psychedelic therapies, states should consider legislation to “incorporate the recommendations made in this report to encourage statewide implementation action.”

“Legislation on triggers would require addressing various process and regulatory issues, such as the role and involvement of professional licensing boards, state agencies, and the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee,” the task force said.

The report also says that psychedelic reform should include military veterans’ access to FDA-approved therapies, which could involve working with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify opportunities to participate in clinical trials and pilot programs using new drugs.

“The grant should be considered to ensure active efforts by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop billing codes that will promote sufficient reimbursement for the provision of psychedelic therapy, which are essential to ensure patient access post-FDA approval,” the panel said.

Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R), who also serves as co-chair of the psychedelic panel, said the task force “focused on preparing Alaska for potential federal approval of psychedelic therapies.”

“These recommendations came from months of collaboration and work by medical professionals, advocates and legislators who focused on patient safety, evidence-based care and access, especially for those who have not seen progress through traditional treatments,” he said.

So far two other states have facilitated fully functioning psychedelic programs. Oregon voters legalized the therapeutic psilocybin in 2020and Colorado’s program was approved at the ballot box in 2022, with the state’s governor signing the legislation a year later to create the regulatory framework for the program

Meanwhile, a campaign in Alaska announced in December that it did not get enough signaturesAn initiative to legalize some psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT on the 2026 state ballot.– but the activists have emphasized that “the work is far from over” as they focus on putting the reform measure before the voters in 2028.

“While we won’t be on the ballot in 2026, we’re still on track for 2028, and with the determination, focus and support of our community, we’ll continue to move forward,” Natural Medicine Alaska said in December. “This movement is gaining momentum every day. In fact, 65 percent of Alaskans support this initiative, and that number continues to grow.”

A pre-campaign policy outline explained that the proposal is “under construction”. The Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 passed by Colorado votersunder last year facilitators administered the state’s first legal dose of psilocybin.

A 2024 poll found that nearly half (49.4 percent) of Alaskan adults would support a ballot measure more broadly. remove criminal penalties for the use of substances such as psilocybin mushrooms.

That support rose significantly—to nearly two-thirds (65 percent)—when participants were told that Alaska has high rates of mental illness that could be treated with psychedelics.

Photo elements courtesy of the user carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

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Greenhouses and more at Fruit Logistica Berlin

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February 9, 2026

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New varieties, new concepts, new packaging, new products, new faces – there was a lot to do in Berlin last week. And, new travel schedules too: due to the black ice, many visitors traveling by plane had to extend their stay or find an alternative mode of transport – or both.

Click here for the photo report.

© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.com

Fortunately, our bus drivers got us home safely to the Netherlands, and we were able to take all the photos of the greenhouse suppliers, growers and other related parties, so take a seat and enjoy our Fruit Logistica photo report!

There will be more updates this week, as well as extensive reports from our international Freshplaza colleagues, focused on the fresh produce industry.

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Anti legalization group fails to collect signatures to roll back laws

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February 8, 2026

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A Maine campaign seeking to significantly roll back the state’s marijuana law failed to submit signatures this week for the November 2026 ballot, meaning anti-cannabis activists will have to move to 2027 if they hope to get the issue before voters.

Amid criticism from reform advocates, industry players and some lawmakers for allegedly deceptive signature-gathering tactics, Mainers for a Safe and Healthy Future apparently couldn’t make the cut by the Feb. 2 deadline.

“Cannabis orders were not returned yesterday,” Assistant Secretary of State for Communications Jana Spaulding told Cannabis Business Times on Tuesday. In Maine, that doesn’t mean the campaign has to start from scratch, though, because they can still put the proposition on next year’s ballot. A Republican Maine lawmaker and marijuana industry advocates raised the alarm last month that prohibitionist campaigners were using deceptive petitions to get voters to sign the petition.

A video shared by Rep. David Boyer (R) appeared to feature an image and audio recording of a person gathering signatures for the ballot measure, in which he grossly misrepresented what the cannabis proposal would accomplish, saying its main goal was to ensure the product’s safety through improved testing.

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Ohio Cannabis Industry Divided Over Referendum To Block Marijuana And Hemp Restrictions

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February 8, 2026

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“The referendum effort is about putting profits from unregulated hemp and gas station weed sales over people.”

By Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal

Ohioans for Cannabis Choice can start collecting signatures to get one Referendum votes to block state voter-approved recreational marijuana law change. and ban intoxicating hemp products. But there are others in the industry who disagree with the new effort.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost this week approved a referendum that would repeal Ohio Senate Bill 56, which takes effect March 20. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed the bill into law on Dec. 19.

Yost’s approval comes after the language was initially rejected due to “omissions and misrepresentations,” but Cannabis Choice for Ohio made changes to the language and resubmitted the application.

“My certification … should not be construed as an endorsement of the enforceability and constitutionality of the referendum petition,” Yost wrote in the letter certifying the petition.

Ohioans voted to legalize marijuana in 2023, with recreational sales beginning in August 2024 and sales exceeding $836 million in 2025.

The new law will reduce THC levels in adult marijuana extracts from 90 percent to a maximum of 70 percent, limit THC levels in adult flower to 35 percent, and ban smoking in most public places.

Possession of marijuana outside of its original container is prohibited criminalizes bringing marijuana from another state into Ohio. The legislation also requires drivers to keep marijuana in the trunk of their car while driving.

The Ohio Cannabis Coalition opposes the potential referendum.

“SB 56 upholds the will of Ohio voters by maintaining a safe and regulated adult cannabis market while closing dangerous loopholes that allowed untested intoxicating hemp products and out-of-state marijuana to cross Ohio’s shelves,” said OHCANN Executive Director David Bowling.

Ohio marijuana customers won’t notice any changes under the new law, said Pete Nischt, vice president of compliance and communications for Klutch Cannabis, which has dispensaries in Northeast Ohio.

“The person entering the legal marijuana market in Ohio will see no difference after the effective date of (SB 56),” he said.

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the group behind Issue 2 on the 2023 ballot, also opposes the referendum attempt.

“SB 56 is a sensible improvement on Issue 2,” the coalition said in a statement. “SB 56 honors the will of Ohio voters while protecting public health. The referendum effort is about putting profits from unregulated hemp and gas station weed sales over people.”

Wesley Bryant, owner of 420 Craft Beverage in Cleveland, supports the referendum effort, calling the legislation “an assault on consumer rights.”

“Ohioans are buying these products because they relieve stress, help people sleep at night, provide relief to veterans with PTSD and help some people with addiction,” Bryant said in a statement. “SB 56 is evil and full of unintended consequences, and we will give voters the opportunity to say no to this harmful legislation.”

Joey Ellwood, a Tuscarawas County hemp farmer, called the law a government overreach.

“The people spoke in 2023 when they voted to legalize cannabis, and we’ll let them speak again in November by voting no on SB 56,” Ellwood said in a statement.

Cannabis Choice for Ohioans must collect 6 percent of the total votes cast in the last gubernatorial election (248,092) to get on the Nov. 3 ballot. The group will also need 3 percent of the participation of the governors of 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties.

Organizers will have 90 days from the date the governor submitted the bill to the secretary of state to collect the necessary signatures.

The last referendum passed in Ohio was in 2011 when voters overturned a law against collective bargaining.

This story was first published by the Ohio Capital Journal.

Marihuana Moment is made possible with the help of readers. If you rely on our pro-cannabis journalism to stay informed, consider a monthly Patreon pledge.

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