STAND. COM. REP. NO. 672

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1454

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1454, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PSILOCYBIN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to evaluate the potential use of therapeutic psilocybin in treating mental health conditions.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Establishes a therapeutic psilocybin working group within the Department of Health for administrative purposes only;

(2) Requires the therapeutic psilocybin working group to examine scientific research and laws relating to the use of therapeutic psilocybin;

(3) Requires the working group to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2024;

(4) Appropriates moneys for the therapeutic psilocybin working group for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025; and

(5) Dissolves the working group on June 30, 2025.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Wellness and Resilience; Aloha Green Holdings, Inc.; Clarity Project; Aloha Integrative Mental Health; Beyond Mental Health; Hawaii Psychological Association; Malama Mushrooms; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Honolulu Psychotherapy; and thirty-four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee recognizes that psilocybin has been effective in treating a number of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and end-of-life psychological distress. Your Committee notes that the United States Food and Drug Administration designates the therapeutic use of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression as a breakthrough therapy. Your Committee also notes that Oregon and Colorado have legalized the medicinal use of psilocybin. Your Committee believes that the State should consider whether the drug may be a useful tool in addressing various mental health conditions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring the working group to submit its report twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2025, rather than 2024; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1454, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1454, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair