24 Jun 2024 – Matthew Taylor

TFA #5 Fall 2024- A Bill to Reschedule Psychedelic Drugs to

Increase Treatment Options
To do: write warrants for claims, fix claims based on Tuesday lesson, write impacts based on
Tuesday lesson
1. What does it do? In technical terms, the bill seeks to shift three drugs (psilocybin, MDMA, and
lysergic acid diethylamide) from one federal prescription schedule (Schedule 1) to another
(Schedule 3). Schedule 3 is much less restrictive for drugs. Schedule 1 is extremely restrictive,
referred to by the Drug Enforcement Administration as “drugs with no currently accepted
medical use and a high potential for abuse.” (https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-
scheduling) See the definitions section for more.

Simple Version. The bill seeks to legalize LSD (acid), magic mushrooms, and ecstasy (molly) by
removing the current restrictions on their usage by the DEA.

2. Historical Perspective. All three drugs remain illegal in the United States at the federal level,
though psilocybin and ecstasy have become legal for medical purposes at the state and city
level. To be specific for each drug:
a. Psilocybin: It has been used for thousands of years, but gained popularity during the
1960s United States counterculture movement. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act
(CSA) deemed it a Schedule 1 substance, illegalizing the substance. In recent years, there
has been movement to decriminalize multiple psychedelics, including psilocybin, and
Denver, Colorado became the first city to fully legalize the substance.
(https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/08/us/denver-magic-mushrooms-approved-
trnd/index.html)

The drug has been proven to be effective in treating certain mental health conditions,
including depression, by multiple studies, including one by the Johns Hopkins School of
Medicine (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-
releases/2022/02/psilocybin-treatment-for-major-depression-effective-for-up-to-a-
year-for-most-patients-study-shows).

b. LSD: It was first synthesized in 1938, and became known for its psychoactive properties
throughout the 50s and 60s. It also was a symbol of 60s counterculture. In 1970, the CSA
illegalized the drug by classifying it as a Schedule 1 substance. While it has not gained as
much legal status as the other two drugs, there has been some work towards legalizing
the substance. MindMed, a medical corporation, developed MM120, a
“pharmaceutically optimized” version of LSD. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved research into MM120 for therapeutic purposes, giving it “breakthrough”
status. (https://www.buddingtrendsblog.com/2024/03/legalizing-lsd-fda-says-mm-
hmm-to-mm120/ and https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20240326/fda-
opens-the-door-clinical-use-lsd).
 c. MDMA: Also known as ecstasy or molly, it was first synthesized in 1912, and gained
recreational popularity in the 1980s. However, in 1985, due to concerns of abuse, it was
illegalized by its classification as a Schedule 1 substance. Recently, the drug has shown
to be potentially fit for treating PTSD or social anxiety from autism.
(https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240320-legal-status-of-psychedelics-around-
the-world) The FDA has also granted it “breakthrough therapy” status for its research.
3. Definitions. The bill provides pretty much no definitions, it simply remarks that the three drugs
“can be prescribed by licensed physicians in order to treat... PTSD, depression, insomnia, and
terminal illnesses.” Some other important definitions for understanding this bill:
a. Controlled Substances Act: The CSA is a federal statute enacted in 1970 which classifies
substances into five Schedules. These are classifications which discuss how a given
substance can be handled, distributed, or prescribed based on how addictive or
dangerous they are. 1 is the most restrictive Schedule, getting looser and looser until 5.
b. Schedule 1: According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA): “Schedule 1
drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical
use and a high potential for abuse.” They are illegal for any distribution. All three drugs
of this bill are currently Schedule 1.
c. Schedule 3: According to the DEA: “Schedule 3 drugs, substances, or chemicals are
defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological
dependence. Schedule 3 drugs abuse potential is less than Schedule 1 and Schedule 2
drugs but more than Schedule 4.” This bill seeks to transition the three aforementioned
drugs from Schedule 1 to this Schedule (3).
d. Psychedelic drug: A psychedelic drug alters perception, mood, and cognitive processes.
It induces non-ordinary states of consciousness by affecting brain chemistry, particularly
serotonin receptors.
e. 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Also called MDMA, ecstasy, or molly, it’s a
psychedelic classified as a Schedule 1 substance.
f. Lysergic acid diethylamide: Also called LSD or acid, it’s a psychedelic classified as a
Schedule 1 substance.
g. Psilocybin: The main component of magic mushrooms, it’s a psychedelic used by
humans for millennia, but is currently classified as a Schedule 1 substance.
h. MM120: A version of LSD synthesized by MindMed, currently approved by the FDA for
“breakthrough therapy” research.
4. Pro Arguments.
a. Claim. These drugs have been proven to be effective in treating multiple mental health
disorders, including depression, PTSD, social anxiety from autism spectrum disorder,
and even alcoholism.
i. Studies include ones done by the (add quotes for each source)
1. American Psychological Association
(https://www.apa.org/monitor/2024/06/psychedelics-as-medicine)
“Evidence is also mounting that psychedelics, which typically produce
an altered state of consciousness, could help people suffering from
substance use disorders, racial trauma, obsessive-compulsive disorder,
and other conditions.”
 2. National Center for Biotechnology Information
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9710723/) “It has
been demonstrated that MDMA increases prosocial behavior... and
emotional empathy. Additionally, it has been demonstrated to raise
subjective judgments of openness, trust, and interpersonal closeness...
MDMA has been shown to reduce activity in the amygdala... associated
with fear and anxiety, while increasing activity in the frontal cortex...
involved in higher-level thinking and decision-making. This may benefit
people with PTSD...”
3. NYU School of Medicine (https://med.nyu.edu/departments-
institutes/population-health/divisions-sections-centers/medical-
ethics/education/high-school-bioethics-project/learning-scenarios/ptsd-
treatment-psychedelics) “There is some evidence in animal studies to
show that psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in ‘magic
mushrooms,’ may act by stimulating nerve cell regrowth in parts of the
brain responsible for emotion and memory.”
4. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
(https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/research/psychedelics-
research) “In a small study of adults with major depression, Johns
Hopkins Medicine researchers report that two doses of the psychedelic
substance psilocybin, given with supportive psychotherapy, produced
rapid and large reductions in depressive symptoms...”
5. Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Guidelines for Safety
(https://files.csp.org/Psilocybin/HopkinsHallucinogenSafety2008.pdf)
“Hallucinogens generally possess relatively low physiological toxicity,
and have not been shown to result in organ damage or
neuropsychological deficits... MDMA has been judged to be safe for
human administration in the context of several therapeutic and basic
human research studies... there is no evidence of such potential
neurotoxic effects with the prototypical classical hallucinogens (i.e. LSD,
mescaline and psilocybin).”
ii. Warrant. The data shows how psychedelic drugs are being proven to be
effective in treating multiple mental health disorders and symptoms, including
but not limited to depression, PTSD, social anxiety, and alcoholism.
Furthermore, some studies suggest psychedelics are the only option for certain
PTSD patients. Opponents may argue the drugs have dangerous neurotoxic side
effects, however, this claim has been refuted by figures in the scientific
community (see study 5, Guidelines for Safety).
b. Claim. These psychedelics are not addictive.
i. Studies include ones from the
1. National Library of Medicine
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4813425/) “Although
there is a general public perception that psychedelic drugs are
dangerous, from a physiologic standpoint they are in fact one of the
 safest known classes of CNS [central nervous system] drugs. They do not
cause addiction, and no overdose deaths have occurred after ingestion
of typical doses of LSD, psilocybin, or mescaline.”
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (https://nida.nih.gov/research-
topics/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs) “[A] study published on
psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline suggested that these psychedelic drugs
are ‘weakly reinforcing,’ indicating their use is not likely to lead to a
substance use disorder.”
ii. Warrant. The data from these studies establishes a clear narrative that, in
general, psychedelics are not addictive nor do they lead to substance use
disorders.
1. Counterargument. Some psychedelics, most notably LSD, build
tolerance, which isn’t addiction, but refers to how the effects of the
drugs (including the therapeutic ones) require higher and higher
dosages to be achieved over time.
2. Rebuttal. Tolerance, however, is not addiction and simply refers to how
effective the drug is. It does not refer to the state of the patient
themself.
c. Claim.
5. Cons.
a. Claim. The long-term effects of these drugs are not sufficiently understood at this time.
i. Studies have been conducted by the
1. National Library of Medicine
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7880300/) “However,
a... standard protocol for assessing the behavioral effects of
psychedelics has yet to be established, and a number of factors may
confound the results... The literature addressing the effects of
psychedelics on rodent behaviors relevant to psychiatric and cognitive
function is sparse...”
2. Johns Hopkins University, Ohio State University, Central Michigan
University
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S01497634193
10413) “Research into the basic effects and therapeutic applications of
psychedelic drugs has grown considerably in recent years. Yet, pressing
questions remain regarding the substances’ lasting effects.”
3. Bremler et al. (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-41145-
x#article-info) The paper acknowledges a “dearth [lack] of research on
long-term negative psychological responses to psychedelics... [prior
research] may have inflated positive and downplayed negative
responses.”
4. McGill University (along with Carleton, Stanford, and more)
(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7880300/) “...the
study sample was small and not sufficiently powered to detect small
effects on personality... the study was conducted in healthy subjects
 and used many safety precautions. Therefore, the results cannot
necessarily be generalized to other settings or patients. Negative acute
responses or negative long-term effects could occur...”
ii. Warrant. The statements from these studies do not suggest that the
psychedelics do not have the therapeutic effects advertised by the affirmation.
However, they highlight an important aspect of psychedelic drugs: that there is
a significant gap in research when it comes to long-term effects of the drugs.
b. Claim. The rescheduling of these drugs will set a precedent for Schedule 1’s future.
c. Claim. The alleged therapeutic effects of these drugs are already covered by safer
substances.
6. Impacts.
a. The impact of rescheduling any Schedule 1 substance is obviously large. Many of these
drugs, including LSD and psilocybin, were symbols of 60s counterculture. As such, the
last time they were “seen” by the public were as dangerous street drugs used by the
peripheral classes of society. The memories people have of these drugs conflict with
modern studies into their effects. The passage of this bill could potentially bolster the
pharmaceutical economy, and would certainly increase the opportunities for drugs to
enter the streets. Whether or not they actually do is a separate issue.
7. Questions.