DEA Advances Psilocybin Rescheduling Petition to Federal Health Officials

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has formally requested the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct a medical and scientific review of psilocybin, potentially leading to its rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule II under the Controlled Substances Act. This move follows years of legal challenges, including efforts by Dr. Sunil Aggarwal to use psilocybin for end-of-life care under Right to Try laws, and aligns with the FDA's previous designation of psilocybin as a 'breakthrough therapy' for certain mental health conditions. Rescheduling to Schedule II could open up federal and state access to psilocybin for terminally ill patients and expand its medical use. Concurrently, New Mexico has legalized psilocybin for specific qualifying conditions like treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, end-of-life care, and substance use disorder, with clinics integrating it into addiction treatment protocols. President Donald Trump is reviewing a strategy that includes health warnings about substances like THC, reflecting ongoing federal attention to controlled substances. Additionally, studies continue to explore the therapeutic potential of cannabis-related products, indicating a broader trend toward reevaluating controlled substances in medical contexts.