Utah Quietly Approves Psilocybin and MDMA for Mental Health Treatment at Select Hospitals

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Research is conducted at Numinus Wellness Inc. in Draper on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Gov. Spencer Cox allowed a bill to go into effect that would authorize doctors at two of Utah's biggest hospital systems to treat patients with psilocybin and MDMA.

In a move aimed at addressing the state's mental health crisis, doctors at Utah's largest healthcare systems will soon have the option to utilize psilocybin and MDMA in treating patients. These substances, typically illegal, have garnered attention from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to promising research suggesting their effectiveness in addressing conditions such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, and other mental health issues.

Although Governor Spencer Cox opted not to sign the legislation establishing this pilot program, he also refrained from vetoing it, citing overwhelming legislative support. The program is set to take effect on May 1, as announced by Cox on Thursday.

"While I generally support scientific efforts to explore the benefits of new substances that alleviate suffering," Cox stated, "I am disappointed that the input of our task force, specifically established to advise the Legislature on studying Psilocybin, was disregarded."

The task force, which concluded its work last year, had recommended caution, suggesting that legislative action should await FDA approval of these drugs, despite evidence indicating their safety and efficacy.

In 2023, lawmakers heeded this advice, failing to pass a similar bill that would have legalized psilocybin production alongside a therapeutic pilot program. Governor Cox had expressed reservations, stating his opposition to "experimenting on 5,000 people" within the state.

However, this year's bill, SB266, encountered minimal resistance in both the House and Senate. Sponsored by Senator Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, it was presented as a response to Utah's escalating mental health crisis, with the state ranking seventh nationally in adult depression rates, and suicide being a leading cause of death among younger Utahns.

The program established by SB266 will operate exclusively within the University of Utah Health and Intermountain healthcare systems. It will be subject to review after three years, allowing lawmakers to decide its continuation.

Under the program's guidelines, administering psilocybin or MDMA will occur only within medical facilities, prohibiting patients from taking these drugs home. Moreover, the treatment cannot be extended to minors.

Healthcare providers participating in the program will be required to submit detailed reports to the legislature by July 2026, covering aspects such as drugs administered, patient outcomes, and any observed side effects.

Dr. James C. Ashworth, medical director of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, emphasized the need for a data-driven approach in implementing the program. However, Intermountain declined to comment on the matter when contacted by The Salt Lake Tribune.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) An attendee of Revival, an annual four-day immersive "creative living" festival at North Fork Park in Eden, June 23, 2023. Utahns continue to find a way to use psychedelics — whether public officials like it or not.

Overall, the decision to introduce psilocybin and MDMA into mental health treatment represents a significant shift in Utah's approach to addressing mental health challenges, opening doors to alternative therapies with the potential to alleviate suffering for many individuals.

Sources: Paighten Harkins, “Utah quietly legalizes psilocybin, MDMA for mental health treatment at these hospitals”, The Salt Lake Tribune, 03/22/2024, https://www.sltrib.com/news/2024/03/21/psilocybin-mdma-treatments-could/, Accssed 03/22/24.