Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) allowed a psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program bill to take effect without signing or vetoing it. The measure will use opioid settlement funds to finance clinical trials exploring psilocybin, ibogaine, and MDMA as alternative treatments.
Both chambers unanimously passed SB 43, sponsored by Sen. Patrick McMath (R), last month. The House added MDMA and made technical changes; the Senate identified an error, sent the bill to a bicameral conference committee, and both floors then voted on the corrected version.
Rep. Neil Riser (R) said adding MDMA “put us in positive correlation” with a psychedelics executive order recently signed by President Donald Trump “so that we can look at all different alternatives, including those that are beyond ibogaine that were listed it in the executive order.” He cited the suicide rate among veterans with PTSD—five at home for every combat death—as evidence that VA and other treatment methods have failed.
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) will oversee clinical trials. Eligible participants include those with opioid use disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, and treatment-resistant neurological or mental health conditions. Studies must go through FDA investigational drug approval; researchers must hold DEA permits for Schedule I substances. Patients undergo mental and physical health screening; researchers must establish safety protocols, adverse event reporting, therapist licensing, and tracking systems.
Academic institutions may collaborate to bolster FDA approval prospects, and Louisiana would join a national consortium for research and drug development. If a drug gains FDA approval, intellectual property revenue flows to the consortium minus Louisiana’s share. Under the House-amended bill, the state receives at least 2.5% of net sales—reduced from 20% in a prior committee version. McMath also sponsored a resolution to study psychedelics’ therapeutic benefits for veterans.
Landry also allowed a bill to let terminally ill patients use medical marijuana in hospitals to take effect without his signature, but signed separate legislation imposing up to one year in jail for smoking marijuana within 2,000 feet of school property, including college campuses.
A lawmaker filed a proposal for a state task force to “study and develop findings and recommendations regarding the potential legalization of recreational marijuana.” Rep. Candace Newell (D) introduced the “Adult-Use Cannabis Pilot Program Regulation and Enforcement Act,” a three-year adult-use legalization pilot program; her similar measure from last session failed, as did a bill to establish a marijuana tax framework ahead of potential legalization.