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*hb0427*
HOUSE BILL 427
J1 (6lr2063)
ENROLLED BILL
— Health/Finance —
Introduced by Delegates Guzzone, Bagnall, Boyce, Embry, Foley, Hill, Hutchinson,
Moreno, Terrasa, and Ziegler
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances – Extension 2
and Membership 3
FOR the purpose of extending the Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic 4
Substances to study and make recommendations related to the use of natural 5
psychedelic substances ; adding a representative of a historically Black college or 6
university in the State to the Task Force; and generally relating to the Task Force on 7
Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Chapter 793 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2024 10
Section 1 and 2 11
2 HOUSE BILL 427
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 1
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 2
Chapter 793 of the Acts of 2024 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That: 5
(a) (1) In this section, “natural ps ychedelic substances” includes naturally 6
derived psilocybin, psilocin, dimethyltryptamine, mescaline, and any other substance 7
determined by the Task Force to be a natural psychedelic substance. 8
(2) “Natural psychedelic substances” does not include peyote. 9
(b) There is a Task Force on Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances. 10
(c) The Task Force consists of the following members: 11
(1) one member of the Senate of Maryland who shall be appointed by the 12
President of the Senate; 13
(2) one member of the House of Delegates who shall be appointed by the 14
Speaker of the House; 15
(3) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; 16
(4) the Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; 17
(5) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary’s designee; 18
(6) the Director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration, or the 19
Director’s designee; and 20
(7) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 21
(i) one representative of the University System of Maryland, the 22
Johns Hop kins University’s Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, or 23
Sheppard Pratt; 24
(ii) ONE REPRESENTATIVE OF A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE 25
OR UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE; 26
(III) one representative of a Native American tribe with experience in 27
the religious and spiritual use of psychedelic substances; 28
(iii) (IV) one individual with expertise in behavioral health; 29
HOUSE BILL 427 3
(iv) (V) one individual with expertise in the treatment of 1
substance use disorders; 2
(v) (VI) one individual with expertise in the treatment of chronic 3
pain; 4
(vi) (VII) one individual with expertise in psychedelic –assisted 5
psychotherapy; 6
(vii) (VIII) one individual with expertise in psychedelic research; 7
(viii) (IX) one individual with expertise in access to care in 8
underserved communities; 9
(ix) (X) one individual with expertise in drug policy reform; 10
(x) (XI) one individual with expertise as a member of law 11
enforcement; 12
(xi) (XII) one individual who is a patient with conditions that can be 13
treated with psychedelic substances; 14
(xii) (XIII) one individual with experience with the pharmacology of 15
natural psychedelic substances; and 16
(xiii) (XIV) one physician with experience with the appropriate use of 17
psychedelic substances and other integrative medical practices. 18
(d) To the extent practicable, the membership of the Task Force shall reflect the 19
socioeconomic, ethnic, and geographic diversity of the State. 20
(e) The Governor shall designate the chair of the Task Force. 21
(f) The Maryland Cannabis Administration shall provide staff for the Task Force. 22
(g) A member of the Task Force: 23
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 24
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 25
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 26
(h) The Task Force shall: 27
(1) study: 28
4 HOUSE BILL 427
(i) existing laws, policies, and practices relating to the use of natural 1
psychedelic substances; 2
(ii) the best available science and data on public benefits of 3
responsible access to and use of natural psychedelic substances; 4
(iii) opportunities to maximize public benefits of responsible access to 5
and use of natural psychedelic substances; 6
(iv) the best available data on potential risks of access to and use of 7
natural psychedelic substances; 8
(v) opportunities to mitigate potential risks of access to and use of 9
natural psychedelic substances; and 10
(vi) barriers health care practitioners and facilitators may encounter 11
relating to natural psychedelic substances, inclu ding barriers relating to insurance, 12
restrictions by licensing and credentialing entities, zoning, advertising, and financial 13
services; 14
(2) make recommendations regarding any changes to State law, policy, and 15
practices needed to create a Maryland Natural Psychedelic Substance Access Program that 16
enables broad, equitable, and affordable access to psychedelic substances, including: 17
(i) permitting requirements, including requirements regarding 18
education and safety; 19
(ii) access to treatment and regulated support; and 20
(iii) production of natural psychedelic substances; and 21
(3) make recommendations to transition from criminalizing conduct 22
involving natural psychedelic substances, including: 23
(i) punishing with civil penalties nonviolent infractions involving 24
the planting, cultivating, purchasing, transporting, distributing, or possessing of or other 25
engagement with natural psychedelic substances; 26
(ii) expunging the records of Marylanders with convictions for 27
nonviolent criminal offenses relating to natural psychedelic substances; and 28
(iii) releasing Marylanders incarcerated for nonviolent criminal 29
offenses relating to natural psychedelic substances. 30
(i) The Task Force may consult with experts and stakeholders in conducting its 31
duties. 32
HOUSE BILL 427 5
(j) (1) On or before July 31, 2025, the Task Force shall submit a report of its 1
findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the 2
State Government Article, the General Assembly. 3
(2) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 31, 2026, THE TASK FORCE SHALL 4
SUBMIT AN UPDATED RE PORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE 5
GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT 6
ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 8
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of [2] 3 years and 6 months and, at the end of 9
December 31, [2026] 2027, this Act, with no further action required by t he General 10
Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force and effect. 11
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 12
1, 2026. 13
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.