House Bill 382: A Step Toward Legal Pathways for Psilocybin Therapy in Georgia

House Bill 382, introduced by Representatives Stephens and Newton proposes an amendment to Code Section 16-13-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The bill addresses the classification of psilocybin, a Schedule I controlled substance under Georgia law. Schedule I drugs are defined as substances with a high potential for abuse and are not currently accepted for medical use under federal law. This classification places restrictions on research and medical use. 

The bill states that psilocybin formulations approved by the FDA under Section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act would not be automatically classified as Schedule I in Georgia. Instead, these formulations would be scheduled in alignment with federal regulations, as determined by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) under the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Section 812). The bill would also repeal any conflicting laws. 

GAPT supports research backed psychedelic treatments in the state of Georgia. A part of our five-year plan is a goal to make psilocybin therapy accessible to appropriate patients by addressing legal and regulatory barriers. The proposed bill supports this objective by: 

1. Enabling Legal Pathways for Clinical Use 

• If psilocybin-based treatments receive FDA approval, they would no longer be restricted as Schedule I substances under Georgia law. This could allow medical providers in Georgia to administer these interventions within a regulated framework. 

2. Working Toward Certification and Compliance 

• By making psilocybin available in accordance with federal approvals, the bill could help establish a regulatory pathway for clinics and providers. This supports GAPT’s goal of developing a certification process to