Senate Bill No. 191 aims to expand the eligibility criteria for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) pilot program in Connecticut. The bill allows individuals who are at least 18 years old and meet clinical eligibility criteria set by the institutional review board of the administering medical school to participate. This includes residents who are veterans, retired first responders, or direct care health care workers. The therapy provided will involve MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy or molly) or psilocybin, both of which are serotonin receptor agonists, as part of a research program approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that DMHAS must terminate the pilot program if the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approves MDMA and psilocybin for medical use. This change allows the pilot program to continue operating even if such approvals occur, which could lead to ongoing costs for DMHAS. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and reflects a shift in policy to support continued research and therapy options involving these substances.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable:
File No. 28: