EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0548*
HOUSE BILL 548
J1 4lr2942
CF SB 1009
By: Delegates Guzzone, Fair, Hill, Kerr, R. Lewis, and Ruth Ruth, Pena–Melnyk,
Cullison, Alston, Bagnall, Bhandari, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Lopez,
Martinez, Rosenberg, Taveras, White Holland, and Woods
Introduced and read first time: January 24, 2024
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 1, 2024
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic 3
Substances to study and make recommendations related to the use of natural 4
psychedelic substances; and generally relating to the Task Force on Responsible Use 5
of Natural Psychedelic Substances. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) (1) In this section, “natural psychedelic substances” means includes 9
naturally derived psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline, and any other 10
substance determined by the Task Force to be a natural psychedelic substance. 11
(2) “Natural psychedelic substances” does not include peyote. 12
(b) There is a Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. 13
(c) The Task Force consists of the following members: 14
(1) two members one member of the Senate of Maryland: who shall be 15
appointed by the President of the Senate; 16
2 HOUSE BILL 548
(i) one of which shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; 1
and 2
(ii) one of which shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the 3
Senate; 4
(2) two members one member of the House of Delegates: who shall be 5
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 6
(i) one of which shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and 7
(ii) one of which shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the 8
House; 9
(3) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 10
(4) the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary’s designee; 11
(5) (4) the Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; 12
(6) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee; 13
(7) (5) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary’s designee; 14
(8) (6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or 15
the Executive Director’s designee; and 16
(9) (7) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 17
(i) one representative of the University System of Maryland or, the 18
Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, or 19
Sheppard Pratt; 20
(ii) one representative of a federally recognized Native American 21
tribe in the State with experience in the religious and spiritual use of psychedelic 22
substances; 23
(iii) one individual with expertise in public health; 24
(iv) (iii) one individual with expertise in behavioral health; 25
(v) (iv) one individual with expertise in the treatment of 26
substance use disorders; 27
(vi) (v) one individual with expertise in the treatment of chronic 28
pain; 29
HOUSE BILL 548 3
(vii) (vi) one individual with expertise in psychedelic–assisted 1
psychotherapy; 2
(viii) (vii) one individual with expertise in psychedelic research; 3
(ix) (viii) one individual with expertise in access to care in 4
underserved communities; 5
(x) one individual with expertise in harm reduction strategies for 6
individuals with a substance use disorder; 7
(xi) (ix) one individual with expertise in drug policy reform; 8
(xii) one individual with expertise in the religious and spiritual use of 9
psychedelic substances; 10
(xiii) (x) one individual with expertise as a member of law 11
enforcement; and 12
(xiv) (xi) two individuals who are patients one individual who is a 13
patient with conditions that can be treated with psychedelic substances; 14
(xii) one individual with experience with the pharmacology of natural 15
psychedelic substances; and 16
(xiii) one physician with experience with the appropriate use of 17
psychedelic substances and other integrative medical practices. 18
(d) To the extent practicable, the membership of the Task Force shall reflect the 19
socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State. 20
(e) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Task Force. 21
(f) The Maryland Department of Health Cannabis Administration shall provide 22
staff for the Task Force. 23
(g) A member of the Task Force: 24
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 25
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 26
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 27
(h) The Task Force shall: 28
(1) study: 29
4 HOUSE BILL 548
(i) existing laws, policies, and practices relating to the use of natural 1
psychedelic substances; 2
(ii) the best available science and data on public benefits of 3
responsible access to and use of natural psychedelic substances; 4
(iii) opportunities to maximize public benefits of responsible access to 5
and use of natural psychedelic substances; 6
(iv) the best available data on potential risks of access to and use of 7
natural psychedelic substances; 8
(v) opportunities to mitigate potential risks of access to and use of 9
natural psychedelic substances; and 10
(vi) barriers health care practitioners and facilitators may encounter 11
relating to natural psychedelic substances, including barriers relating to insurance, 12
restrictions by licensing and credentialing entities, zoning, advertising, and financial 13
services; 14
(2) make recommendations regarding any changes to State law, policy, and 15
practices needed to create a Maryland Natural Psychedelic Substance Access Program that 16
enables broad, equitable, and affordable access to psychedelic substances, including: 17
(i) permitting requirements, including requirements regarding 18
education and safety; 19
(ii) access to treatment and regulated support; and 20
(iii) production of natural psychedelic substances; 21
(3) make recommendations to establish requirements for a Natu ral 22
Psychedelic Permit, including: 23
(i) educational curricula to ensure the safe use of natural 24
psychedelic substances, including curricula relating to the testing of, proper dosage of, and 25
usage setting for such substances; 26
(ii) learning assessments to ensure knowledge, skills, and abilities 27
gained by Natural Psychedelic Permit applicants before the issuance of a permit; 28
(iii) existing infrastructure that may be used for the delivery of 29
educational and testing material; 30
(iv) existing organizations and groups willing and able to develop 31
educational curricula and learning assessments; and 32
HOUSE BILL 548 5
(v) quantities of natural psychedelic substances that Natural 1
Psychedelic Permit holders may possess, use, grow, and gift without supervision; 2
(4) make recommendations for therapeutic and licensed support for adult 3
use of natural psychedelic substances, allowing individuals the ability to obtain treatment 4
involving the use of psychedelic materials under the supervision and guidance of 5
experienced, trained, and licensed therapists and facilitators; 6
(5) make recommendations for establishing requirements related to the 7
production of natural psychedelic substances, including: 8
(i) regulations for growing natural psychedelic substances in 9
accordance with agricultural safety standards; and 10
(ii) testing and packaging requirements for products containing 11
natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency; 12
(6) make recommendations for the sale and taxation of natural psychedelic 13
substances, including: 14
(i) restricting the sales of natural psychedelic substances to Natural 15
Psychedelic Permit holders; 16
(ii) systems for the sale and reasonable taxation of natural 17
psychedelic substances to cover the cost of a Maryland Natural Psychedelic Substance 18
Access Program; 19
(iii) systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic 20
substances with home delivery; and 21
(iv) options for retail stores that sell natural psychedelic substances 22
in communities in the State and opt to participate in the online sale and home delivery of 23
the substances; and 24
(7) (3) make recommendations to transition from criminalizing conduct 25
involving natural psychedelic substances, including: 26
(i) punishing with civil penalties nonviolent infractions involving 27
the planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, or possessing of or other 28
engagement with natural psychedelic substances; 29
(ii) expunging the records of Marylanders with convictions for 30
nonviolent criminal offenses relating to natural psychedelic substances; and 31
(iii) releasing Marylanders incarcerated for nonviolent criminal 32
offenses relating to natural psychedelic substances. 33
6 HOUSE BILL 548
(i) The Task Force may consult with experts and stakeholders in conducting its 1
duties. 2
(i) (j) On or before December 15 July 31, 2025, the Task Force shall submit a report 3
of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of 4
the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 5
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 6
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and 6 months and, at the end of 7
June 30, 2026 December 31, 2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General 8
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.