Could Arizona lead in psychedelic mushroom research? Bipartisan proposal introduced at Capitol

Arizona would spend $30 million to research psychedelic mushrooms as a treatment for a host of medical conditions under a bipartisan proposal at the state

Capitol. House Bill 2486 is groundbreaking not only because it would allow for such research, but also because it would lead to peer-reviewed research on the

effects of natural psilocybin mushrooms, rather than a synthetic version of the drug commonly used in such studies. Psilocybin is the psychoactive compound

found in many species of mushroom that people use recreationally and, increasingly, medically. It is a schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which means the

Drug Enforcement Administration currently doesn't recognize any medical uses for it. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

The bill is among a wave of similar proposals and actions across the country as states open the door to treating people with psilocybin and investigating its potential to

help with conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and addiction. HB 2486 would require the

Department of Health Services to form a committee to review applications for research grants to study the effects of psilocybin on 13 health problems. It also

would require the state to fund $30 million for such grants. The primary sponsor is Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria. Co-sponsors are Reps. Jennifer Longdon,

D-Phoenix and Stacey Travers, D-Phoenix. Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, also has signed on.