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Committee backs time‑limited psychedelic research bill focused on veterans with treatment‑resistant PTSD
Summary
HB390 (first substitute) would authorize a tightly scoped, legislatively overseen research trial on psychedelic‑assisted therapy for veterans with treatment‑resistant PTSD, including a proposed $2 million budget and oversight by FDA/DEA and the University of Utah IRB; the committee adopted a substitute and advanced the bill unanimously.
Representative Daley-Provo (presenting HB390) described the bill as a carefully designed, limited research trial to generate Utah‑specific safety and outcomes data for psychedelic‑assisted therapies for veterans with treatment‑resistant PTSD. She framed the proposal as research—not legalization or clinical rollout—and emphasized regulatory oversight.
Several veterans gave emotional testimony about life-changing outcomes from treatments abroad. Retired Lt. Col. Matthew Butler said he "owe[s] my life" to an Ayahuasca ceremony and urged Utah to provide supervised, legal research options at home. Ben Lewis from the Huntsman Mental Health Institute described the proposed research structure, regulatory oversight, and a $2,000,000 budget that included philanthropic commitments and potential institutional support; he stressed staged evidence development and psychotherapeutic safeguards.
Clinical leaders including Michael Wharton and Anya Ragna emphasized trauma-informed psychotherapy and strict safety protocols. The committee adopted the first substitute and voted to pass HB390 forward with a favorable recommendation.
