State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill this week to allow the therapeutic use of certain kinds of psychedelics.

Senate Bill 1012, co-authored by Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R-Valley Center, would allow people 21 years old and older to use “psychedelic substances in a therapeutic context, in a safe and controlled environment, and under the supervision of a licensed and trained facilitator,” according to a news release from Wiener’s office. 

“The bill does not allow the sale, personal possession, or use of psychedelics outside of a regulated therapeutic context,” according to the release. 

“We know psychedelic therapy saves lives, and safe and controlled access to these innovative treatments will be transformative for so many Californians seeking relief from mental health and addiction challenges.” Sen. Scott Wiener

SB 1012 would allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms; dimethyltryptamine, also called DMT, which is the active ingredient in ayahuasca; MDMA and mescaline, but not peyote. 

“We know psychedelic therapy saves lives, and safe and controlled access to these innovative treatments will be transformative for so many Californians seeking relief from mental health and addiction challenges,” Wiener said. 

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Wiener’s and Waldron’s previous bill to decriminalize the personal use of certain psychedelics.

SB 1012 attempts to address Newsom’s concerns over the earlier bill’s lack of therapeutic guidelines by creating “a professional licensing board to train facilitators, develop guidelines, and regulate the safe and responsible therapeutic use of psychedelics,” according to Wiener’s office.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.