Minnesota Lawmakers File Bipartisan Bill to Create State-Regulated Psilocybin Therapeutic Use Program
- A bipartisan group of Minnesota senators introduced Senate File 3971 to establish a state-regulated psilocybin therapeutic use program for adults 21 and older with qualifying medical conditions.
- The Minnesota Department of Health would oversee patient enrollment, facilitator registration, and data collection, requiring patients to obtain written certification from licensed health professionals and pass health screenings.
- Registered patients could cultivate psilocybin at home in secure spaces or designate cultivators, while facilitators must be certified, oversee administration sessions, and ensure safe and ethical use.
- The bill includes protections against discrimination and criminal penalties for lawful participants, prohibits public and commercial use, and sets phased application timelines starting in 2026 and 2027, with a Psychedelic Medicine Advisory Committee created for guidance.
A bipartisan group of Minnesota senators filed legislation yesterday that would establish a state-regulated psilocybin therapeutic use program for adults 21 and older diagnosed with qualifying medical conditions. Senate File 3971 was introduced by Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten (D) and Sen. Mark Koran (R) and has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The measure would create a legal framework allowing eligible patients to cultivate, possess and use psilocybin in supervised therapeutic settings.
Under the proposal, the Minnesota Department of Health would oversee the program, including patient enrollment, facilitator registration and data collection. To qualify, individuals would need to be at least 21 years old and obtain written certification from a Minnesota-licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant verifying a diagnosis with a qualifying medical condition. Patients would also be required to undergo a detailed health screening to identify potential contraindications such as cardiovascular disease, psychosis or bipolar disorders.
If approved, registered patients could cultivate psilocybin themselves in a secure, enclosed space at a private residence or designate a cultivator to grow it on their behalf. Cultivation would be limited in size and quantity under rules established by the commissioner of agriculture.
The bill would also establish a registration system for facilitators, who must be 21 or older and demonstrate competency in ethics, safe use practices and session supervision. Facilitators would be required to be physically present during “administration sessions,” where patients consume psilocybin, and could also conduct preparation and integration sessions.
The legislation includes civil and criminal protections for registered patients, designated cultivators and facilitators acting in compliance with the program. It also prohibits public use, use in motor vehicles, possession on school grounds or in correctional facilities, and any commercial sale or distribution of psilocybin. Selling psilocybin outside the program would remain a felony offense.
In addition, the proposal bars discrimination in employment, housing and education based solely on lawful participation in the program, and restricts law enforcement access to the patient registry without a valid search warrant.
Applications for patients would open January 1, 2027, while facilitator registration would begin October 1, 2026, under timelines outlined in the bill. The measure would also create a Psychedelic Medicine Advisory Committee to provide guidance on program implementation and future recommendations.
If enacted, Minnesota would join a small but growing number of states exploring regulated therapeutic access to psychedelic substances.