Arizona to Invest $5M Into Psilocybin Research

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) last week signed the state’s $17 billion budget bill into law; the budget includes about $5 million dedicated to whole-mushroom psilocybin research, the Arizona Mirror reports.

Renowned medical cannabis and psychedelics researcher and principal investigator at the Scottsdale Research Institute Dr. Sue Sisley — who had pushed for the funding — said the $5 million was a good starting point for medical psilocybin trials. Additionally, the funding’s emphasis on whole mushroom research makes it unique from most other studies into the medical efficacy of psilocybin because they typically isolate the chemical from its natural source.

“We’re thrilled that the research on natural mushrooms will finally be able to move forward, so this is a big achievement that finally we’re going to get objective data. This will give us reliable insight into how these mushrooms might help or harm people. We need to learn more about how this works.” — Dr. Sisley, via the Arizona Mirror

The approved budget stipulates that nonprofit and/or university researchers who ultimately receive the grants must prioritize the use of veterans, first responders, frontline healthcare workers, and people from underserved communities as trial participants, the report said.

The funding for psychedelics research was supported by bipartisan state lawmakers including Reps. Kevin Payne (R), Jennifer Longdon (D), and Stacey Travers (D), and Sen. T.J. Shope (R).

“Arizonans, especially veterans, deserve alternatives to dangerous and addictive prescriptions,” Payne said in a statement. “This bill will help.”