Nevada committee hears resolution urging Congress to reschedule psychedelic medicines for therapeutic use

The Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections in Carson City heard testimony on Senate Joint Resolution 10 on SJR 10, a measure urging the United States Congress to reschedule several psychedelic compounds, increase federal research funding and create clearer legal pathways for therapeutic and compassionate use.

Senator Rochelle Winn, who represents Senate District 3 in Clark County, presented the resolution and introduced experts and advocates who testified in support. The presenters said the resolution is aimed at reducing federal barriers that limit research and patient access to therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment‑resistant depression, anxiety and substance-use disorders.

The resolution and its presenters stressed recent clinical results and federal research moves. “Under Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, these medicines are classified as having no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse,” said Kate Cotter, representing the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines. Cotter noted that designation conflicts with “FDA recognized breakthrough therapy designations” and cited phase 2 and phase 3 trials for MDMA and psilocybin.

The presentation included specific trial results cited by proponents: an MDMA‑assisted therapy trial finding that 67 percent of patients with severe PTSD no longer met diagnostic criteria after treatment; psilocybin‑assisted therapy cited with a 75 percent response rate and a 58 percent remission rate at 12 months for major depressive disorder; and a Stanford‑cited ibogaine study described by presenters showing large percentage reductions in PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms at one month in a small veteran sample. Presenters also noted the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act allocated $10,000,000 and directed Department of Defense processes for service member participation in psychedelic clinical trials and referenced Department of Veterans Affairs partnerships with Brown and Yale to study MDMA‑assisted therapy for veterans.

John Dalton, identified as a Nevada veteran and representing the Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines, told the committee SJR 10 responds to three barriers created by Schedule I classification: slowed research, blocked patient access (including limits under the Right to Try Act), and legal uncertainty for state and local programs. “Without federal action, progress in developing these treatments will continue to lag, delaying access to life saving therapies,” Dalton said.

Local researchers also described ongoing work in Nevada. Dustin Hines, an associate professor at UNLV’s department of psychology, described his lab’s shift toward psychedelic research and the scientific focus on the 5‑HT2A serotonin receptor. “Our lab really got into studying the receptor that these drugs work on,” Hines said, describing preclinical results his team views as promising for disorders including PTSD, major depressive disorder and addiction.

Public commenters included veterans and first responders who described personal improvements after accessing psychedelic‑assisted therapies outside the United States. Gehrig Tucker, a veteran who said he sustained traumatic brain injuries, testified that he traveled abroad for ibogaine treatment and described substantial functional and emotional improvements. Matt Peek, a firefighter, described marked reductions in depression and improved family relationships following psychedelic‑assisted therapy.

Supporters asked the committee to urge Congress to reschedule psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, mescaline and MDMA; to increase federal research funding; to create a streamlined research approval process while preserving safety protocols; to provide compassionate‑use pathways; and to establish legal protections for entities complying with state and local regulatory frameworks.

Committee members asked presenters about implementation details and existing state research efforts. Senator Winn and other presenters said Nevada institutions, including UNLV and Carson Tahoe partnerships with outside universities, are already involved in related research. Assemblymember Cole asked about re‑inserting “supervised” language in one section of the draft; Senator Winn said the intent is to restore language that would emphasize regulated, supervised programs.

No committee action or vote on SJR 10 was recorded during the hearing; presenters and public testimony concluded and the committee closed the SJR 10 hearing.

The record contains testimony from multiple veterans and first responders who described personal experiences with psychedelic‑assisted therapies and urged federal rescheduling to increase research and access. Proponents repeatedly emphasized the resolution is an urging letter to Congress rather than a state law change.