Another domino falls in the psychedelic renaissance. A couple of weeks ago, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham dropped the pen on the Medical Psilocybin Act, officially making New Mexico the third state to say "yeah, maybe these little fungi gods aren’t so bad after all...maybe a little fun." But before you start planning your therapeutic trip to Albuquerque, just pump those brakes a little. This isn’t a free-for-all. The system’s gotta get built first, and that’s gonna take a hot minute.
So, What’s Actually Legal Now?
Under Senate Bill 219, psilocybin (aka the stuff in magic mushrooms that makes you question existence while hugging a tree) is now decriminalized for therapy specifically for:
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Depression
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PTSD
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Substance abuse disorders
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End-of-life care
Oh, and there’s a nine-member Psilocybin Advisory Board coming soon, stocked with brain nerds and advocates who’ll make sure this whole thing doesn’t turn into another corporate cash grab. (hopefully)
When Can I Actually Get a Dose?
According to Victoria Cvitanovic, a lawyer who’s basically the Saul Goodman of psychedelic policy, the first patients might get their hands on legal shroom therapy by 2028 but don’t hold your breath.
Oregon and Colorado took forever to get their programs running which will involve many stakeholders in the supply chain, from training the guides to finding the right patients. Therefore seeing this take place as early as 2027 is quite optimistic.
Why This is a Big Freaking Deal
New Mexico is now the third state to legalize medical psilocybin, but the first to do it the old-fashioned way via lawmakers, not a ballot measure. That means the government is finally catching up to what Indigenous cultures and rave kids have known for centuries: mushrooms can heal.
Plus, the bill includes a research fund so state universities (such as the University of New Mexico, the OGs of psychedelic science) can study which strains work best for which conditions. NMSU, you’re up next and it's time to grow some next-level fungi.
But Wait—There’s More
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Equity Fund: Broke? No problem. There’s cash set aside to help folks who can’t afford treatment be able to access it.
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Future Expansions: The board can add more qualifying conditions later such as: anxiety, existential dread, and that kind of depression could be next in line.
What Should You Do Now?
If you’re a therapist or curious patient, start getting your ducks in a row. The system’s coming, and when it does, you’ll wanna be first in line.
“Psilocybin offers a science-backed path to overcoming trauma and improving lives,” she said. “As a community, we want the best for our neighbors—this is a big step forward.”