Marijuana Moment: Maryland Government Task Force Recommends Multi-Phase Approach To Legalizing Psychedelics, Starting With Psilocybin

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The Maryland government’s psychedelics task force has released a final report to state lawmakers, recommending a phased implementation of a wide range of reforms to provide legal therapeutic access to substances such as psilocybin while eventually creating a regulatory pathway for broader commercial sales.

About four months after issuing an interim report, the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances advised that it’s ultimately recommending a “multi-pathway framework for safe, broad, and equitable access to natural psychedelic substances, with an initial focus on psilocybin.”

The psychedelics task force was formed following Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) signing of a pair of bills into law in May of last year. The 17-person body, overseen by the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA), is charged with studying how to ensure “broad, equitable and affordable access to psychedelic substances” in the state.

“This report represents an unprecedented collaborative effort drawing on Maryland’s legacy and leadership in psychedelic science,” Andrew Coop, chair of the task force and a professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, said in a press release. “Our goal has been to provide evidence-based recommendations that prioritize public health, patient safety, equity, and scientific integrity.”

The multi-step regulatory framework that members have recommended “involves phased implementation of complementary elements from medical/therapeutic use and supervised adult use, to deprioritization, and to commercial sales,” the report says. “This model broadly and inclusively serves the needs of Maryland’s diverse population while enabling unified safety standards, accountability, and viable economic pathways for small businesses.”

The first phase of the plan would be to create an advisory board to establish safety parameters, data monitoring, practice guidelines, licensing protections, public education campaigns, training for facilitators, law enforcement and testing facilities, as well as “immediate restorative justice measures,” the report states.

Under phase two, the state would implement “deprioritization measures” to mitigate the harms of criminalization, provide for supervised medical and adult-use consumption facilities, allow personal cultivation for “permitted individuals” and promote research processes.

Finally, phase three would be contingent on the “demonstrated safety outcomes and provider confidence” based on the prior steps. Should those factors be satisfied, the last phase would lead to a commercial sales program for adults “who maintain an active license to use natural psychedelic substances,” coupled with an evaluation of the state’s “readiness for expanding to additional natural psychedelic substances.”

“Safety and oversight measures ensure responsible and gradual expansion of access while maintaining capacity to identify and respond to emerging issues swiftly,” the report says. “This approach plans for long-term learning and improvement: starting small, utilizing built-in evaluation and accountability mechanisms from the outset, gathering real-world data, and committing to an iterative approach to policymaking.”

Notably, the task force said it does not support “delaying state action pending future federal [Food and Drug Administration] approval.”

“The Task Force recognizes that implementing such a comprehensive framework requires careful sequencing and coordination, with particular attention to scope of practice issues that may significantly affect the viability and safety of different pathways. However, the order of implementation must carefully consider professional regulatory frameworks and safety concerns raised by medical organizations and health care providers. The Task Force’s recommendation for simultaneous implementation of multiple pathways does not mean that all components must activate on the exact same day, but rather that Maryland should avoid the sequential approach seen in other jurisdictions where implementing one pathway causes others to ‘languish,’and/or bolster black and gray markets.”

Rather, the task force said, the multi-phase approach to psychedelics reform “establishes foundational systems that support all pathways equally, followed by a coordinated launch of medical, supervised adult use, and deprioritization pathways, with commercial sales following once product safety systems are operational.”

“The Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances has developed a groundbreaking ‘ensemble’ system to serve the diverse needs of Maryland residents while maintaining rigorous safety and equity standards. This comprehensive framework is a significant departure from the traditional single-pathway approach of other states and will establish Maryland as the national leader in evidence-based psychedelic policy reform.”

Members also said that the model envisioned could be used by other states to develop their own laws that “adapt to their own circumstances and values.”

“By prioritizing evidence over ideology, equity over exclusion, and flexibility over rigid adherence to single approaches, Maryland is positioned to demonstrate that thoughtful, comprehensive drug policy reform can enhance both individual wellbeing and community safety,” the report says.” The ensemble model stands as a testament to what becomes possible when policymakers engage earnestly with stakeholders, follow the evidence, and design systems that serve real human needs while acknowledging the complexities and unresolved tensions that require ongoing attention and development.”

At this point, the task force is only looking at psilocybin, mescaline and DMT. While the legislature empowered members to investigate potential regulations for other psychedelic substances, they decided to take a more conservative approach in their initial work.

“Rather than choosing a single regulatory pathway, we’re integrating the strongest elements from various approaches to maximize public benefit while mitigating risks,” Shanetha Marable-Lewis, chair of the regulations and governance committee of the task force, said. “The ensemble model allows us to serve the diverse needs of Maryland’s population while maintaining unified safety standards and accountability.”

As originally introduced, the House version of the task force legislation contained more prescriptive requirements to explore and issue recommendations on aspects of psychedelics policy such as “systems to support statewide online sales of natural psychedelic substances with home delivery” and “testing and packaging requirements for products containing natural psychedelic substances with clear and accurate labeling of potency.” That language was ultimately removed, however.

The task force legislation advanced about two years after a different law took effect creating a state fund to provide “cost-free” access to psychedelics like psilocybin, MDMA and ketamine for military veterans suffering from PTSD and traumatic brain injury.

“The work of the Maryland Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances represents a historic collaboration across disciplines and stakeholder groups,” the group’s final report says. “Over the past year, thousands of hours of volunteer service have been devoted to careful study, dialogue, and consensus-building. The resulting recommendations—embodied in the Ensemble Model—reflect both scientific rigor and civic imagination: a pragmatic yet visionary roadmap for ensuring that Marylanders can access natural psychedelic substances safely, ethically, and equitably.”

“This work demonstrates that meaningful reform need not be rushed or partisan. It can emerge instead through open inquiry, compassion, and the shared belief that public policy should serve the well-being of all residents. Maryland now stands at a threshold. The state’s long history of medical innovation, public health leadership, and commitment to religious and civil freedom provide a strong foundation to lead the nation in psychedelic policy reform.”

“By acting with foresight, Maryland can balance personal liberty with collective safety, expand therapeutic options for those in need, and build systems that reflect the highest standards of accountability, equity, and care,” the panel said.

An accompanying report from researchers at Johns Hopkins University also estimated that, if Maryland legalizes psilocybin for therapeutic use, it can expect around 2,500–9,000 clients per year, “depending on access.” Should the state implement a commercial psilocybin market, the report says the prevalence of use “could plausibly rise,” with annual consumer spending on the psychedelic projected to be in the $10-20 million range.

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Meanwhile in Maryland, the governor in June issued another mass pardon for people with past marijuana possession convictions, granting clemency to about 7,000 more people on the holiday Juneteenth that commemorates the end of slavery.

In February, Moore also touted in his State of the State address legislation that would expand opportunities for people to have their criminal records for marijuana expunged, allowing people who violated terms of their parole or probation to petition courts to erase those records.

In April, Moore signed a series of cannabis bills, including one that will require state officials to automatically shield records for low-level marijuana convictions that have been pardoned from public access, and to more broadly expand expungement eligibility for certain other offenses.

He further signed off on legislation that will allow adults to manufacture marijuana edibles and concentrates for personal use, as well as a measure dealing with rules around cannabis consumption lounges.

Separately, the Maryland Senate also passed a measure this session to protect for fire and rescue workers from being penalized for off-duty use of medical marijuana, though it did not advance through the House.

Employers could not “discipline, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against the fire and rescue public safety employee with respect to the employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment” based solely on a positive screening for THC metabolites under the legislation.

In January, officials in Maryland’s most populous county separately said they were moving to loosen marijuana policies for would-be police officers in an effort to boost recruitment amid a staffing shortage.

Photo elements courtesy of carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

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