Back in June, we reported on how the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill to start studying the potential of using psychedelic treatments to treat veterans. It has now reached Governor Maura Healy’s desk after going through reconciliation and clearing legislature, meaning that it is being signed into law.
The HERO Act and its provisions
The HERO Act (An Act Honoring, Empowering, and Recognizing our Servicemembers and Veterans) covers a range of support options for veterans, including promoting inclusivity, modernizing services, and increasing the amount of benefits available. Part of this act also includes “[Establishing] a working group to study the benefits of alternative therapies, such as psilocybin, for treating veterans’ mental health disorders.”
The psychedelics measure was included in this legislation after efforts from Massachusetts for Mental Health Options (MMHO), who encouraged citizens to vote yes on a ballot to create a a carefully regulated therapeutic program for adults to access natural psychedelic medicines that show promise for treating serious mental health conditions.
Implications of the psychedelic study mandate
While this won’t immediately lead to the legalization of such substances in the state, it is a great move forward as it forces Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS) to study alternative therapies. The working group that is created would also be required to file the report; including findings and recommendations; before January 1, 2025.
Although psychedelics haven’t been decriminalized across Massachusetts, there are eight cities that have deprioritized law enforcement efforts against them – Salem, Somerville, Cambridge, Easthampton, Northampton, Amherst, Provincetown and Medford.
Existing research and looking forward
There have already been extensive studies into the effectiveness of psychedelics as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), as well as those with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)s. Studies have found positive long-term and sustainable results when treating PTSD with MDMA in conjunction with talk therapy, with results being seen up to a year after their last treatment with MDMA. There have been other studies showing that there are similar results when treating other mental health conditions, with limited ill effects.
This act will create the possibility for more studies to be conducted, furthering the field even more, and hopefully pushing other states to take the same steps to decriminalize psychedelic substances. For now, we will wait with baited breath until January first and report back.
