By Brendan Bures.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has already aligned herself with cannabis reform, but now sheâs pushing forward legislation that would make it easier for scientists to study the medical efficacy of psychedelics. Ocasio-Cortezâs measure would lift a barrier that many researchers claim makes it unnecessarily restrictive to analyze the medical benefits of psilocybin mushrooms, MDMA, and other drugs.
âFrom the opioid crisis to psilocybinâs potential w/ PTSD, itâs well past time we take drug use out of criminal consideration + into medical consideration,â Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. âThat begins with research. Iâm proud to introduce an amendment that helps scientists do their jobs.â
Specifically, AOCâs measure is an amendment to a large-scale appropriations bill that would remove a rider that prohibits any federal funding being spent on âany activity that promotes the legalization of any drug or other substance in Schedule I [drug].â Under the Controlled Substances Act, cannabis is also considered a Schedule I drug, making it equally as difficult for scientists looking to study marijuana.
âAcademics and scientists report that provisions like this create [stigma] and insurmountable logistical hurdles to researching Schedule I drugs,â AOCâs summary states.
Last month, Denver voters approved a measure that decriminalized magic mushrooms, becoming the first city to do so in the United States. And just last week, Oakland became the second city to decriminalize magic mushrooms. Oakland also decriminalized other entheogenic plants, including ayahuasca, ibogaine, and mescaline.
This article was originally posted on The Fresh Toast.
Photo by Drew Angerer/Staff/Getty Images
Related Stories:
Sorry, But New York Probably Won't Legalize Marijuana This Year
Study: Suicide Numbers Dropped In California After Marijuana Legalization
The preceding article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited.
See more from Benzinga
© 2019 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.