Criminal justice reform advocates said decriminalizing psychedelics is a step toward ending a war on drugs, while veterans groups said it would help destigmatize psychedelics that, in some cases, have been more effective in treating post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression than traditional drugs and therapies.

Earlier iterations of the bill also included MDMA, which is also known as molly or ecstasy; ibogaine, a psychedelic that comes from the iboga plant of central Africa; and lysergic acid diethylamide, commonly called LSD or acid.

Psychedelics For Mental Health Clinical research and other studies into psychedelics such as psilocybin and MDMA have shown that the drugs have potential therapeutic benefits, particularly for serious mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, substance misuse disorders and anxiety.