Bill > AB2489

This bill, titled the California Veterans’ Right to Try Act, aims to expedite research into the therapeutic potential of certain controlled substances, specifically Schedule I or Schedule II drugs like psilocybin, for veterans suffering from severe mental health conditions. It authorizes the Research Advisory Panel, a state body that studies controlled substances, to submit applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials involving these substances. If the FDA does not approve these applications in a timely manner, the bill allows the Research Advisory Panel to provide expedited approval for research projects, provided they meet certain criteria, including independent peer review for scientific merit and rigorous standards. To qualify for participation in these trials, veterans must have been diagnosed with at least two severe or life-threatening mental health conditions and have been deemed ineligible for existing FDA-approved trials. The bill also makes a technical change to existing law regarding the lawful possession and use of psilocybin and psilocin for research, clarifying that such use must not violate federal law. This initiative is intended to address the disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health crises among veterans, particularly those with co-occurring conditions that often exclude them from current research. The provisions of this article are set to remain in effect until January 1, 2032.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2489