Hawaii Senate Bill SCR215

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/23
• Refer: 3/15/23

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Health To Convene A Medicinal Psychedelics Right-to-try Task Force To Explore The Development Of A Program For Qualifying Terminally Ill Patients.

Impact

The bill recognizes the growing body of research indicating the potential efficacy of psychedelics in treating various mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, particularly in terminal patients. By convening a task force, the state seeks to assess both the legal landscape and practical considerations for implementing a Right-to-Try framework, thus potentially allowing for transformative medical treatments that might otherwise remain inaccessible to those in dire need.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR215 requests the establishment of a Medicinal Psychedelics Right-to-Try Task Force in Hawaii. This initiative aims to explore the possibility of granting terminally ill patients access to certain experimental psychedelic drugs, specifically psilocybin and psilocin, prior to their final approval by the FDA. The resolution highlights the urgent needs of patients facing terminal illness who may not have sufficient time to await the traditional drug approval processes, which can be lengthy and obstructive.

Contention

Notably, the resolution does not specify whether a prescription should be needed for patients seeking access to these drugs, nor does it detail how the medications would be distributed. These factors may be points of consideration and debate within the Task Force. Furthermore, the initiative could face scrutiny regarding ethical implications of using non-FDA approved substances in medical treatments, drawing attention from advocates and skeptics alike.