From a Facebook update this afternoon following a discussion on the Iowans Access To Alternative Healthcare bill. Relevant discourse concerning the psychedelic medicine bill begins at six minutes ten seconds of the Live video:
“Most legislation dies without even getting a hearing…I really think we deserve getting a lot more in depth with these issues.”
[6′ 10″ into the video]
“Next. The psychedelic medicine bill. That’s something that’s kind of gotten me a little bit of a reputation around here. So we had a bill, basically we would direct the Pharmacy Board to supervise psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine, for again alternative health treatments.“I’ve actually been pleasantly surprised that this issue has been met with what I would call kind of a “cautious curiosity.” Where, you know, people are wanting to learn more. I even had a conversation yesterday with a young man who was working in the chamber who had some addiction issues. He was yery interested in the bill. He was very appreciative of the direction we were coming from it. Even Representative Thorop, who is the state trooper, he had given me a compliment on the Des Moines Register piece that they had ran.
“So we don’t have a hearing yet. I did hear — they are seeing an open mind. And I think that is kind of my challenge is, as Republicans, you know, the caucus, we want to make sure we are being forward thinking, that we are putting a lot of ideas to the table. And so at least the bill accomplishes that.
“Either way I guess the big story for me, the most important thing, is that issue has generated some nationwide attention. So I’ve been making some friends. This next week I’m going out to Oregon to actually speak at a psilocybin fundraising gala, where I’ll be given five minutes of stage time, roughly thereabouts. Those organizers do know I’m a stand-up comedian, so I have been encouraged to, you know, give the speech as best we can and I think it’s going to be a great opportunity.
“And again, partnering with those folks where, if we do get the committee hearing making sure that we have, you know, the bona-fide scientific experts that are speaking on it. That we’re not just opening up some sort of circus, but we’re getting the experts in here. And there is a lot of prestigious scientific institutions that have been doing research on this. So there’s a lot of resources to tap into, and I’m glad that that’s kind of being organized behind the scenes. So that support is there, that interest is there, and that makes me feel good.
“And then again, being invited out to Oregon, to broaden the message, to make these new friends. You know, Dr. Paul Stamets is going to be there, Dennis McKenna is gonna be there. So to me it is a little bit of a dream come true, you know, trying to — I want to make the most of it as a gigantic opportunity. So you know, I am feeling a little bit of the pressure to make the most of the opportunity. But again, it is really cool to see how these things unfold. And yeah, so this weekend, again, positive thoughts, prayers, as hopefully we can make the most of it and bring some really great ideas back to Iowa.”
Watch Jeff’s full update here:
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