FAQ

Psychedelics are powerful substances. Responsible use involves education, preparation, and integration. People who use psychedelics can reduce risks and increase the likelihood of a positive experience by taking precautions before, during, and after ingesting the substance. Working with a trusted and experienced psychedelic facilitator can make the experience safer.

Psychedelics aren't for everyone. People with a personal or family history of psychosis and some other mental health issues are at increased risk for adverse events. Combining psychedelics with certain medications (such as lithium) also increases risks.

People who are considering using psychedelics should educate themselves on safety practices. The Fireside Project, which provides peer support services and provides education to minimize the risks of psychedelic experiences, offers a simple set of 10 guidelines for anyone thinking about using psychedelics.

If enacted, SB 1012 will create a framework for safety-focused psychedelic services under the care of a trained, licensed facilitator. The bill creates a regulated program, developed with guidance from experts, that establishes a set of guardrails and system of accountability to enable safer psychedelic experiences. Specifically bill outlines procedures for receiving psychedelic facilitation services that involves education, safety screening, informed consent, preparation and safety planning, supervised administration, and post-experience follow up support and integration.

Promising scientific research, media coverage and policy reform efforts have driven increased interest and use of psychedelic substances. Risks are under-researched and poorly communicated to the public. There is a growing urgent need for a more balanced, realistic and nuanced understanding of psychedelics among the interested public. People should be able to make well-informed choices about whether psychedelics are right for them. This will lead to safer use practices that optimize benefits and mitigate risks.

People need to know that factors like set and setting, including underlying conditions – such as a family history of certain mental health disorders – can put a person at risk for a serious adverse outcome. They need to know that there are research gaps and things we don’t yet fully understand about risk and adverse events. 

Public health education campaigns have successfully shifted public perception about many life-saving behaviors. Examples include campaigns to promote safer sex practices, wearing seatbelts and helmets, and designated drivers.

One in three Californians is experiencing a mental health challenge. Many are becoming aware that emerging scientific research—including studies at California’s top universities—point to psychedelics as a tool to alleviate mental and emotional distress that may be more effective than other options. A growing body of credible evidence shows that psychedelics, when used in safe settings with intentional preparation and proper support, can help people struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Psychedelic substances are by no means a panacea for mental health issues, and in some cases, they can have harmful effects on individuals’ mental health. People taking lithium, antidepressants, and other psychotropic medications as well as individuals with a history of certain mental health conditions such as schizophrenia should exercise extreme caution or not use psychedelics at all.

This legislation creates a board to regulate and license facilitators who provide psychedelics in a controlled, supervised setting for adults over 21. With direction from an expert oversight committee, the board will ensure facilitators meet ethical standards, receive proper training, and support the health and safety of participants, including referring individuals to other trained professionals who can provide appropriate care. Prior to receiving services, participants will undergo a health and safety screening process. Substances will be produced and tested by licensed entities – in controlled settings, promoting safety and accountability.

Right now many Californians are seeking psychedelics abroad or from underground sources. By establishing a regulated program for the supported, facilitated use of psychedelics, SB 1012 aims to enable equitable and safer access to psychedelic services within the state. This bill does not allow for retail sales or use without the involvement and supervision of a trained, licensed psychedelic facilitator. SB 1012 does not decriminalize psychedelics.

SB 1012 will not create or allow storefronts or a marketplace to buy psychedelics. This bill only permits the sale of psychedelics in the context of facilitated use at an approved location and supervised by a trained and licensed psychedelic facilitator. This program represents an entirely different model than Prop 64, which legalized the retail sale of cannabis in 2016. Under SB 1012, selling or distributing these substances for any recreational use remains illegal. Only people who have been rigorously screened by trained and licensed mental health professionals will be able to access psychedelics, and only in a facilitated setting for mental health purposes with extensive follow-up required.

Working with public health experts and researchers, we will continue to develop improved bill language to enable the development of a robust system for monitoring and evaluating outcomes of the program. It is critical that we learn how to best deliver care, minimize the risk of serious adverse outcomes, and maintain a system of accountability to prevent misconduct and unethical behavior by facilitators. All data will be deidentified to ensure that individuals’ privacy and confidentiality is protected.

Yes, SB 1012 directs the psychedelic facilitator board to issue regulations for both individual and group facilitation.

SB 1012 includes an explicit affirmation and intent to “Respect and support indigenous cultures, traditions, and uses of psychedelic substances and not affect rights or undermine any protected status, or practice under other laws related to indigenous uses of psychedelic substances, or affect churches operating pursuant to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.”

SB 1012 is very different from ballot measures that have been proposed. Some recent proposals decriminalize psychedelics or permit the retail sale of psychedelics. This policy does neither.

FDA approval for most psychedelics is years away, and many Californians are already seeking out these substances abroad or in the underground. We need a safe, therapeutic framework to provide support and encourage responsible use sooner to promote safer practices. Furthermore, SB 1012 will spur innovation in facilitator training, general expertise, and workforce development to better prepare California if psychedelics are eventually approved by the FDA. State-regulated therapeutic access also enables greater flexibility in some areas, including for therapeutic access in group or couples settings.

Like many other professional boards, licensing fees from the program will support regulatory costs and oversight functions. Initially, there will likely need to be a modest investment from the state, and we’re committed to working with the governor and other state leaders to develop the most streamlined approach. Ultimately this is worth doing because public interest and the use of psychedelics in unregulated contexts is only going to increase in the future. It’s time for us to now begin a process of creating a safer, regulated environment and supporting public health education.

FDA approval for most psychedelics is years away, and many Californians are already seeking out these substances abroad or in the underground. We need a safe, regulated framework to provide support and encourage responsible use sooner to promote safer practices. Furthermore, SB 1012 will spur innovation in facilitator training, general expertise, and workforce development to better prepare California if psychedelics are eventually approved by the FDA. State-regulated access also enables greater flexibility in some areas, including for facilitated access in group or couples settings.