California’s governor has signed a bill aimed at streamlining research on marijuana and psychedelics.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Friday gave final approval to the measure that empowers the Research Advisory Panel of California (RAPC) to expedite reviews of study proposals on Schedule I and Schedule II controlled substances, through January 2028.
The newly enacted legislation, sponsored by Assemblymember Christopher Ward (D), will also authorize RAPC’s chair to assign two or more members of the body to conduct expedited reviews of research proposals and approve them on behalf of the panel.
It will also allow “individual panel members to communicate and consult asynchronously with other individual panel members with complementary core competencies outside of full panel meetings to conduct their individual reviews,” a summary of the legislation states.
The overall intent of the bill is to facilitate studies to determine whether marijuana, psychedelics or other Schedule I or Schedule II drugs can be utilized “to treat opioid use disorders, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health conditions fueling the disproportionate incidence of suicide among California veterans,” the summary says.
“Eliminating any and all unnecessary delays in commencing such clinical research in California will save lives,” it says.
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