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Support the Compassionate Use and Research of Psilocybin in Illinois

We need your voice in the movement for mental health reform! Join us in advocating for the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens (CURE) Act by signing our Change.org petition. It's a simple yet powerful way to make your voice heard. Doing so will urge your state representatives and senators to support this vital legislation. This act has the potential to revolutionize mental health treatment, especially for our veterans, and your support is crucial in making this a reality. It takes only a few minutes to participate, but your action can have a lasting impact on countless lives.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About Illinois CURE Act

What is psychedelic therapy?

Psychedelic therapy is a therapy that uses a class of chemicals whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness, to treat depression, anxiety, addiction and other mental health challenges. These compounds range from chemicals like ketamine and MDMA, to natural plants and fungi such as psilocybin cubensis, ibogaine, and San Pedro. Outside of clinical studies, psychedelic therapy is not currently available— but that may be quickly changing. Pioneering research by institutions like MAPS, Johns Hopkins, and UCLA has shown that psychedelic therapy, when done by trained professionals, can help people break through a variety of mental health conditions. Including us, there are 23 states current working to legislate access to psychedelic therapies.

Why do we need a services act?

The IL CURE Act would create a new program that would allow people to get access to psychedelic therapy to treat depression, anxiety, and addiction without a specific diagnosis — potentially helping thousands.

How does psychedelic therapy work?

Psychedelic works differently than pharmaceuticals, which need to be taken daily and often come with an array of adverse side effects. Preliminary research shows that psychedelic therapy can be effective and has an excellent safety track record. In a small number of administration sessions with a trained facilitator, patients have found lasting relief from various forms of depression and anxiety. Patient outcomes have been so promising that in 2019, the FDA granted psilocybin therapy a “breakthrough therapy” designation. This is done when research demonstrates a new treatment method is more effective than current standards of care.

What does research say about psilocybin therapy?

Pioneering rigorous studies at leading medical research institutions such as Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU indicate that psilocybin therapy shows real promise. It appears to be uniquely effective in treating depression, end-of-life anxiety, and addiction. A recent study from NYU showed that psilocybin therapy significantly reduced depression and anxiety symptoms in 80 percent of the cancer patient participants, with few side effects. More studies have followed and medical psilocybin appears to be on track to get FDA approval in the coming years.

How does the IL CURE Act help?

Currently, Illinoisans cannot access psilocybin therapy — The IL CURE Act changes that by asking the Illinois Department of Public Health to create a licensing system that will create a regulated program where Illinoisans suffering from depression, anxiety, and other challenges can see a trained facilitator to receive supervised psilocybin therapy.

What does the CURE Act do?

The Illinois CURE Act creates a license and regulatory framework for the closed loop production of psilocybin and facilitation of psilocybin services and retail for adults 21 years of age and older.

What doesn't the CURE Act do?

The Illinois CURE Act does not allow for export or import of psilocybin, and it does not allow licensees to interact with unregulated markets. There will be no retail sales of psilocybin under the CURE Act.

Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board

Created by the CURE Act, the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board:

• Studies the implementation of the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, the NMHA, and other relevant policy.

• Advises Illinois Department of Public Health on available scientific studies and research on the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating mental health conditions and makes recommendations on the requirement, specifications, and guidelines for providing psilocybin services in Illinois.

• Develops a long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services will remain a safe, accessible, and affordable option for persons 21 years of age and older

• Makes recommendations to the department regarding what other substances, such as ibogaine, mescaline (except from Peyote), and bonatical forms of dimethyltryptamine, may be included in this regulatory framework.

• Monitors and studies federal laws, regulations, and policies regarding psilocybin

License Types Created by the CURE Act

Manufacturer License

• Greater than 50% ownership group are Illinois residents

• An individual may not hold an interest in multiple manufacturers

• Must demonstrate that property owner has consented to production of psilocybin

• Cannot cultivate outdoors

• Premise must have defined boundaries

• Cannot exceed production quantities established in rule

Testing Lab License

• All psilocybin products must be tested by a licensed laboratory prior to transfer to Service Center

• Laboratories must be accredited by the Illinois Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program

• Testing results must be entered in the product tracking system

Facilitator License

• Must complete IDFPR approved training program before applying for licensure

• Must have been an Illinois resident for two years (expires January 2027)

• Must pass exam approved by IDFPR

• Cannot transfer psilocybin products to clients

Service Center License

• Greater than 50% of ownership group are Illinois residents

• An individual may not hold an interest in more than five service centers

• Cannot be located within 1000 feet of a school

• Must have defined boundaries

• Provides psilocybin products to client for use during administration session

• Only license authorized to provide psilocybin products to clients

• Most employees will be required to hold a worker permit issued by IDFPR

Psilocybin Product Tracking

Product tracking system required to track manufacturing, packaging, delivery, and sale of psilocybin products to:

• Prevent diversion

• Prevent tampering

• Ensure accurate accounting

• Ensure accurate reporting of lab testing results

IDOA shall:

• Develop and maintain tracking system, or

• Contract with Illinois Medicinal Plants Bureau to use cannabis tracking system vendor

Licensing and Applications

License and Application Fees

• IDFPR and IDOA shall adopt rules designating application, license, and renewal fees for all license types

• Fees must be reasonably calculated not to exceed the cost of administration

• Illinois Psilocybin Services will be a fee-based program and fees must cover the costs associated with the agency’s work

Taxes

• Service Centers collect a 15% tax on the sale of psilocybin products payable to Illinois Department of Revenue

• Tax revenues help fund administrative costs for Department of Revenue and Illinois Psilocybin Services and to develop and implement programs for education, harm reduction, and unarmed crisis prevention services.

How to Talk to Your Elected Officials About Psychedelics