Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances

This Maryland law establishes the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances to study these substances and propose changes to state regulations. The group includes elected officials, state agency leaders, and experts in health, law enforcement, and psychedelic therapy, with a specific focus on including a patient representative and a Native American tribal representative. The Task Force will examine current laws, scientific data on benefits and risks, and barriers to care before submitting a report by July 2025. Its recommendations may include creating a regulated access program, shifting from criminal penalties to civil fines for nonviolent offenses, and expunging related criminal records. The legislation specifically defines natural psychedelic substances as psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, and mescaline, while explicitly excluding peyote.