On Friday, the Maryland House of Delegates approved a Senate-passed bill introduced by Senator Sarah Elfreth (D) that would create a state fund to give veterans free access to psychedelics, Marijuana Moment reported.

SB 709 would establish an Alternative Therapies Fund for Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury to study the use, effectiveness, and accessibility of alternative therapies for veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury.

The fund is intended to support the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) in studying the effectiveness of and improving access to “alternative therapies” for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in veterans.

Alternative therapies include hyperbaric oxygen therapy and psychedelics, including 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), psilocybin, and ketamine.

The MDH must administer the fund and consult periodically with the Veterans Affairs Dept., Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland, Sheppard Pratt Hospital, and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

According to the bill, in fiscal year 2024, the governor must include “$1.0 million in the annual budget bill for the fund.”

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash.

This post Maryland: House of Delegates proposes law to fund psychedelic research and access for veterans was original published at “https://www.benzinga.com/government/22/04/26555571/maryland-house-of-delegates-advances-bill-to-fund-psychedelics-research-and-access-for-veterans”