Oregon adopts first set of therapeutic psilocybin rules

According to a letter sent out Friday, the section “received approximately 200 written and verbal comments” during the period of April 1-22. Oregon Psilocybin Services used those comments to refine the draft rules.

The early adoption of these rules will allow Oregon Psilocybin Services to start accepting applications for training programs in June.

These are just the first set of rules for a program set to go into effect in January 2023. The rest of the rules will be considered in the fall and adopted by Dec. 31.

The final rules include limits on what types of mushrooms can be consumed. Manufacturers will still only be allowed to cultivate or possess one specific species of fungi: Psilocybe cubensis.

“To avoid the risk associated with deadly, poisonous look-alikes and the potential for wood lover’s paralysis and animal-borne pathogens, OPS has upheld this recommendation in final rules,” the letter from the section said.

Oregon Psilocybin Services also noted that some people asked for “expanded product delivery methods to increase accessibility” of psilocybin.

“OPS is unable to accommodate this request due to the language used in the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act,” the letter said. “The Act consistently uses the terms ‘consume’ and ‘consumption’ when referring to psilocybin products and administration sessions. The common meaning of consume means ‘to eat, drink or ingest.’ After evaluating the issue, OPS determined that the text of the measure limits psilocybin products to those products that can be consumed orally, and the rules reflect this understanding.”