In 2019, Johns Hopkins University made headlines by launching the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, the first research institution of its kind in the United States dedicated to studying the therapeutic potential of psychedelics. While some reports have inaccurately cited the initiative as a $100 million project, the actual funding at launch was $17 million, secured entirely through private donations. The center represents a turning point in academic acceptance of psychedelics and positions Johns Hopkins at the forefront of what many see as a revolution in mental health care. The goal is to explore how substances like psilocybin can be used safely and effectively in clinical settings, offering alternative treatments for conditions that have long resisted conventional therapies.

Renewing the Scientific Study of Psychedelics

Decades after psychedelics were largely banned and dismissed by mainstream medicine, Johns Hopkins researchers began quietly reopening scientific inquiry into their potential benefits. Their earlier work, starting in the early 2000s, demonstrated that psilocybin could produce powerful shifts in consciousness, reduce anxiety in cancer patients, and support smoking cessation. With the launch of the center, this work expanded significantly, giving researchers the ability to explore a wide range of psychological, neurological, and spiritual outcomes in controlled environments. The center’s existence signals a renewed interest in deeply understanding how consciousness-altering compounds can be harnessed for healing rather than suppressed by outdated stigma.

Key Areas of Research

The center focuses its clinical work on a variety of pressing mental health conditions. These include treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia nervosa, and various substance use disorders. One of the most notable research areas involves using psilocybin as part of therapy to help people quit smoking, a habit notoriously difficult to overcome. Other trials are exploring whether psilocybin can help individuals suffering from alcoholism or opioid dependence by shifting deeply ingrained thought patterns and enhancing emotional insight. Beyond mental illness, researchers are also studying how these compounds affect healthy volunteers, particularly in terms of enhancing creativity, well-being, empathy, and emotional flexibility. This broader lens reflects a growing interest not only in healing but also in the optimization of mental health and cognitive function.

A Multidisciplinary Team

The center brings together experts from psychiatry, neuroscience, psychology, and pharmacology to ensure that the research meets rigorous scientific standards. Initially led by Roland Griffiths, a pioneer in the modern study of psychedelics, the team includes a number of respected scientists such as Matthew Johnson, Albert Garcia-Romeu, and others who have contributed foundational research in the field. The presence of such a diverse and qualified team has helped the center gain legitimacy both within academic circles and among the broader public. Their work is not only reshaping scientific understanding but also influencing how the media and policymakers discuss psychedelics today.

Ethical Considerations and Public Engagement

Ethics are a cornerstone of the center’s approach. All trials are conducted with high levels of informed consent, careful screening, and professional supervision. In a landscape where the resurgence of psychedelics could be exploited or misunderstood, the center is setting standards for responsible communication and education. The researchers actively work to dispel myths, reduce hype, and ground public interest in science rather than speculation. This careful balance between openness and caution is crucial in maintaining credibility and ensuring the long-term viability of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a mainstream option.

Why This Matters

The creation of the center reflects a broader cultural shift. People are increasingly disillusioned with pharmaceutical solutions that treat symptoms but rarely address root causes. Psychedelics offer a different model—one focused on inner transformation, emotional insight, and the possibility of long-term psychological change after just one or two experiences.…

As mental health treatments evolve and public attitudes shift, psychedelic policy in the United States is rapidly changing. In 2025, several states are moving beyond decriminalization and toward regulated access to psilocybin—the active compound in magic mushrooms—and other psychedelics. From clinical therapy models to voter-backed ballot initiatives, the landscape is quickly diversifying. Here’s an overview of the most important developments in psychedelic policy this year.

Oregon: The First Legal Framework in Action

Oregon made history by passing Measure 109 in 2020, legalizing the supervised therapeutic use of psilocybin. In 2023, the state began licensing service centers, facilitators, and manufacturers. By mid-2025, over 10 licensed service centers are now operational across the state, including Epic Healing Eugene—the first to open its doors.

Clients undergo a preparation session before being administered psilocybin in a controlled setting, followed by integration therapy. Though the model does not allow for take-home use, Oregon’s system is being closely watched as a template for other states.

Colorado: Legal Framework Rolling Out

In late 2022, Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, decriminalizing personal use, possession, and growing of certain natural psychedelics including psilocybin, DMT, mescaline (non-peyote), and ibogaine. By March 2025, the state began issuing licenses to facilitators and healing centers for regulated, adult-use psychedelic therapy.

Unlike Oregon, Colorado’s Natural Medicine program allows for group ceremonies and indigenous-led healing practices. The state has also emphasized equity and access, ensuring that small, community-based providers can enter the legal market.

New Mexico: A Medical Psilocybin Law

In a major shift, New Mexico passed the Medical Psilocybin Act in early 2025. This law allows psychiatrists and mental health professionals to administer psilocybin in a therapeutic setting to patients with treatment-resistant conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

This legislation marks a departure from Oregon’s wellness model by integrating psychedelic therapy into the conventional medical system. The law includes provisions for insurance coverage and oversight by the state’s Department of Health.

California: Renewed Push for Legalization

California has long been at the forefront of drug policy reform, but past efforts to legalize or decriminalize psychedelics have stalled. In 2025, the movement has regained momentum with a new bill—SB 519 (reintroduced and revised)—gaining support in the state legislature.

The updated version proposes the decriminalization of personal use and possession of psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and mescaline for adults. It also lays the groundwork for a state-sanctioned therapeutic access program, which would be designed in partnership with the University of California system and medical professionals.

If passed later this year, California could become the largest state to decriminalize and regulate psychedelic substances.

Washington, D.C. and Local Movements

While federal reform remains slow, local initiatives continue to drive change. In Washington, D.C., magic mushrooms and other entheogens were decriminalized through Initiative 81 in 2020. Although this didn’t legalize psychedelics, it made them the city’s lowest law enforcement priority.

Other cities moving toward reform in 2025 include:

• Detroit, MI – Decriminalization now expanding into county-level discussions.

• Seattle, WA – Ongoing funding for psychedelic training programs for therapists.

• Berkeley, CA – Considering a licensed psychedelic therapy pilot program.

Federal Status: Still Schedule I, But Signs of Change

Despite state-level momentum, psilocybin remains a Schedule I substance under federal law, alongside drugs like heroin and LSD. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has designated psilocybin as a “Breakthrough Therapy” for depression, allowing for fast-tracked research.

In 2025, several Phase 3 clinical trials are ongoing, and the FDA is expected to consider approving psychedelic-assisted therapy for major depression as early as 2026. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and Usona Institute are leading many of these efforts.…