Observations on 25 Years of Cannabis Law Reforms and Their Implications for the Psychedelic Renaissance in the United States

Interest in psychedelics is growing, suggesting a possible psychedelic renaissance in the United States. Policymakers should consider lessons from 25 years of marijuana law reforms: repealing or narrowing the federal ban on psychedelics may be impossible in the near term, but states offer an alternative pathway. To avoid a federal crackdown, policymakers may need to compromise on some goals. Until public support broadens, narrow reforms may be pursued. Legalization also raises difficult questions about how psychedelics will be supplied.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Interest in psychedelics is booming, heralding a possible psychedelic renaissance in the United States. But policy makers interested in expanding access to psychedelic substances would be wise to heed lessons gleaned from the past 25 years of marijuana law reforms. That experience suggests that it may prove impossible to repeal or narrow the federal ban on psychedelics in the near term, but that states provide an alternative pathway to reform. Still, to blunt the risk of a federal crackdown, policy makers may need to sacrifice certain policy goals. Furthermore, until the public warms to a broader psychedelic renaissance, policy makers may pursue narrow reforms. Policy makers will also need to address thorny questions over how psychedelics will be supplied once legalized.