Albany, NY – New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives (NYMHA) today expressed strong support for newly amended legislation (A2142-A/S5303-A) introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and Senator Julia Salazar, to establish a regulated framework for medical access to psilocybin in New York State.

 The proposed program would be administered by the New York State Department of Health, allowing eligible patients to obtain and use psilocybin with authorization from licensed healthcare providers. The framework is designed to ensure safe, controlled access through clinical oversight, patient education, and regulatory safeguards. The legislation builds on previous efforts to establish access to psilocybin’s therapeutic benefits, with significant changes made after legislators gained new insight from an Assembly public hearing on the issue held in September.

 The legislation will help position New York as a leader in therapy alternatives and follows a recent federal executive order expanding access to psychedelic therapies by accelerating clinical research, easing regulatory barriers to therapeutic use, and broadening pathways for patients to access emerging treatments like psilocybin, particularly for veterans.

 “New Yorkers for Mental Health Alternatives (NYMHA) welcomes Assemblymember Amy Paulin’s newly amended legislation to establish a regulated framework for medical access to psilocybin in New York,” said Joe McKay, spokesperson for NYMHA. “As the state continues to confront a worsening mental health crisis, it is critical that policymakers explore safe, evidence-informed approaches that expand options for those living with serious or treatment-resistant conditions. Emerging research suggests that psychedelic therapies, when used responsibly and within appropriate safeguards, may offer meaningful therapeutic benefits particularly to veterans, first responders, and others who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This proposal represents a thoughtful step toward a public-health-driven model that prioritizes patient safety, clinical guidance, and regulatory oversight. NYMHA looks forward to working with lawmakers, healthcare professionals, patients and other stakeholders to ensure that New York develops a responsible, science-based approach to emerging mental health treatments.”

“During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that many New Yorkers continue to struggle with serious conditions for which existing treatments do not always work,” said Assemblywoman Paulin. “After hearing testimony from researchers, clinicians, veterans, patients, and families, I believe that New York has a responsibility to thoughtfully examine emerging therapies like psilocybin-assisted treatment. This legislation establishes a carefully regulated framework that allows qualified healthcare providers to evaluate patients individually, apply their clinical judgment, and determine whether this therapy may be appropriate.”

“Research institutions across the country are producing increasingly compelling evidence about the therapeutic potential of psilocybin-assisted treatment for conditions like PTSD, cluster headache, depression, substance use disorder, and end-of-life distress. This legislation creates a regulated and medically supervised pathway that balances innovation with strong safeguards and patient protections," said Senator Julia Salazar, who sponsors the legislation in that chamber. "New Yorkers struggling with their mental health deserve to have access to the full range of potential solutions, and that's what this bill helps deliver.”

Under the bill, licensed healthcare providers would be authorized to evaluate patients, determine eligibility, and provide guidance on appropriate use, including counseling, supervision, informed consent, and follow-up care. The program would initially focus on veterans, first responders, and other individuals suffering from major treatment-resistant depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorder, end-of-life distress, or cluster headaches.

The legislation also establishes clear standards for in-state production, testing, and distribution of psilocybin to ensure product safety and quality. Patients would be permitted to access psilocybin through authorized channels and use it only in accordance with provider guidance and program rules.

The bill also advances a carefully regulated approach to in-state production, building on New York’s existing network of cultivators under Department of Health oversight.

Importantly, the measure includes legal protections for patients, providers, and authorized entities participating in the program, ensuring that compliant medical use does not result in state-level criminal or civil penalties.

“As policymakers evaluate solutions to the state’s mental health challenges, this legislation reflects a balanced, responsible approach grounded in science and patient care,” McKay added. “New York has an opportunity to lead with a model that expands access while maintaining strong safeguards, and we are eager to support that effort.”

“Over the last two decades, research into psilocybin-assisted therapy has produced increasingly compelling evidence for conditions like depression, PTSD, substance use disorder, and end-of-life distress,” said Dr. Saleena Subaiya, Assistant Professor, Dept of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “What is especially important about this legislation is that it creates a structured, evidence-informed framework for implementation – one that prioritizes patient safety, clinical oversight, and ongoing data collection. New York has an opportunity to help advance both the science and the responsible integration of these therapies into healthcare.”

Veterans and veteran advocates across New York have also expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the urgent need for additional treatment options for PTSD, depression, and other service-related mental health conditions.

“After years of watching veterans struggle with PTSD, depression, addiction, and suicide despite exhausting conventional treatments, many in our community are calling for new approaches grounded in both science and safety," said Jesse Gould, an Army Ranger veteran, Harlem resident, and founder of Heroic Hearts Project. "This bill creates a carefully regulated pathway for medically supported psilocybin access – a responsible step toward giving veterans and others who are suffering another option for healing.”

“Too many veterans return home carrying invisible wounds that conventional treatments have failed to adequately address,” said Michael Bernstein, United States Air Force Veteran (Pararescue), and member of the national group Vets (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions). “Veterans deserve safe, legal access to every promising therapeutic option available, especially when emerging research continues to show the potential of psilocybin-assisted therapy for conditions like PTSD, depression, substance use disorder, and end-of-life distress. This legislation offers a responsible, medically supervised pathway that prioritizes safety, oversight, and patient care while giving hope to veterans and others who have run out of options.”