Psychedelic Advocacy

900 WORDS (~4 MINS READ)

Effective Date: 4 June, 02025

Advocacy & Reform: Advancing Psychedelic Justice in Maine and Beyond

The future of psychedelic healing will not be shaped by science alone but by voices, stories, and collective courage. As a guide, father, veteran, and advocate, I’ve shared my personal and professional experience with psilocybin and other entheogens in public forums because I believe in the right to heal without fear.

I’ve testified directly in front of Governor Janet Mills, former President Joe Biden, DEA officials, Chiefs of Police, City Council members, mayors, legislators, and state senators. I’ve spoken from the heart and from hard-earned experience in chambers and in quiet rooms where policy begins to take shape. I’ve carried not just my story, but the stories of those I’ve guided, loved, and buried. This work has taught me that policy is personal.

Speaking up for what you care about and believe in is one of the most democratic things we can do. It is a sacred responsibility, not just for ourselves, but for our children, our neighbors, and those who will come after us. If this work has touched your life, I invite you to step forward. Let your story be part of the shift. Whether through public testimony, a letter to a lawmaker, or a conversation with someone in power, your voice matters.

This is not just about mushrooms. It’s about health, freedom, and dignity. It’s about the right to seek healing without shame or punishment. And it’s about building a future where our communities are guided by compassion, not fear.

Just like the civil rights, LGBTQ+, and veterans' movements before us, this moment requires a critical mass of leaders, visionaries, healers, parents, professionals, willing to speak out. For your own well-being, for the freedom to choose your healing path, and for the rights of future generations, now is the time to speak and step forward.

Statewide Momentum in Maine

LD 1034 – Decriminalizing Personal Psilocybin Possession (2025)
Sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, this bill allows adults over 21 to possess up to one ounce of psilocybin mushrooms without criminal penalty. No sales, no distribution, just the right to grow, hold, and heal in peace. In June 2025, it passed initial votes in the House and Senate by a single vote in each chamber, but ultimately failed to be enacted and did not become law. Still, this marked the most significant legislative progress for psilocybin reform in Maine’s history and laid vital groundwork for future efforts.
View LD 1034 →

LD 1914 – Psilocybin Health Access Act (2023–2024)
Originally proposed to create a legal therapy model for psilocybin, this bill was amended to form a study commission. Though it passed both chambers, it died with the close of session before implementation.
View LD 1914 →

LD 1582 – Psilocybin Services Act (2021–2022)
Maine’s earliest statewide attempt to regulate psilocybin therapy, modeled after Oregon’s approach. It passed the Senate but was rejected by the House.
View LD 1582 →

Resolve 2-23/24 – Portland City Council Resolution (2023)
In a historic local move, Portland, Maine, passed a resolution deprioritizing the enforcement of laws against psychedelic plants and fungi. While not binding law, it reflects the will of the people and a shift toward treating these substances as public health matters.
Read the Resolution Coverage →

Federal Shifts and Psychedelic Policy

Breakthrough Therapies Act
This bipartisan bill seeks to reschedule substances like psilocybin and MDMA upon receiving FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy designation. It would ease restrictions for medical use and support access for people with serious conditions.
Learn More →

FDA Designations
The FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy status to MDMA for PTSD and psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression, acknowledging their extraordinary potential in mental health treatment. While neither is yet approved, both are in advanced stages of review.

Right to Try Act
Passed in 2018, this law allows terminally ill patients to access investigational drugs. However, its application to Schedule I substances like psilocybin remains limited due to DEA constraints. Continued federal reform is necessary to align access with medical need.

What You Can Do

If you’ve experienced the healing potential of these medicines or witnessed it in someone you love, now is the time to speak. Contact your local representatives. Write a letter to the governor. Submit testimony in support of future bills. Share your truth, because it matters.

Healing is sacred. But access to healing is political.

And when enough of us stand together, the laws will follow.

Let this be your invitation: inform yourself, engage your community, and consider supporting decriminalization or other relevant reforms in your city or state. Your voice could open the door for someone else’s healing.

Want to take action locally?

Grassroots efforts are driving the movement forward.

Decriminalize Nature provides toolkits, strategy guides, and support for launching or joining city and state decriminalization campaigns.

Whether you're organizing a coalition or speaking your truth at a town hall, your voice matters.

Local action is how we bring the medicine home.

Mapping the Movement

Track the shifting landscape of psychedelic law across the U.S.

For those seeking clarity on this evolving frontier, Psychedelic Alpha’s Policy Tracker offers a comprehensive, real-time overview of psychedelic legislation in all 50 states.

Whether you're a seeker, practitioner, or policymaker, this is a vital tool to stay informed, support change, and navigate safely.

Let knowledge be a form of harm reduction. Let awareness be an act of sacred resistance.