Oregon Licenses First Psilocybin Service Center

Regulators in Oregon last week announced the recipient of the first state license for a psilocybin service center, made possible by a voter-approved measure passed almost three years ago.

Oregon Psilocybin Services, a branch of the Oregon Health Authority, said Friday it had licensed EPIC Healing Eugene.

“We would like to congratulate Cathy Jonas of EPIC Healing Eugene on being the first licensed service center in the state,” said Angie Allbee, Area Manager, Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS). “This is such a historic moment as psilocybin services will soon be available in Oregon, and we appreciate the strong commitment to customer safety and access as the service center doors prepare to open.”

In a statement of his own, Jonas said that the company is “excited to be the first licensed service center in Oregon and to be able to open our doors to the many clients who are treated safely and securely by our transformative psychedelics-assisted therapy.” Wise ones will benefit space,” as quoted by the local news channel KGW.

50% of Oregon voters in 2020 approved Measure 109, which made the state the first in the country to legalize psilocybin, while 44% of voters opposed the proposal.

In Friday’s announcement, the Oregon Health Department explained exactly how the new program will work and how individuals can receive such treatment:

“Under the nationwide model, customers 21 and older can access psilocybin services. While not requiring prescriptions or referrals from healthcare providers, clients must first complete a prep session with a licensed facilitator. If they meet the criteria to advance, they can attend an administrative session at a licensed service center where they can consume psilocybin products in the presence of a trained and licensed facilitator. Customers can then participate in optional integration sessions that provide the opportunity to connect to community resources and peer support networks for additional assistance. Once licensed, service centers may hire and/or contract with licensed moderators who are trained to provide preparation, management and integration sessions to customers. Service centers will sell psilocybin products made by licensed manufacturers and tested by licensed laboratories. To date, OPS has issued three manufacturing licenses, one laboratory license, five facilitator licenses and 84 work permits. OPS expects to issue more licenses and work permits in the coming months.”

Late last year, the Oregon Board of Health approved the final list of rules and regulations for psilocybin service centers, which included an option for microdosing and other session length restrictions.

“[Oregon Psilocybin Services] received over 200 written comments and six hours of comments shared in the public hearings during the November 2022 public comment period,” wrote Andre Ours, administrator of the Center for Health Protection, and Allbee.

“These comments have helped further refine and improve the rules, which have now been adopted as final. The final rules are a starting point for the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin services, and we will continue to evaluate and evolve that work as we move into the future.”

In April, the Oregon Health Authority granted licenses to Rose City Laboratories, LLC for the state’s first laboratory to test psilocybin products.

“We would like to congratulate Rose City Laboratories, LLC on being the first licensed laboratory to test psilocybin products from licensed manufacturers,” Allbee said at the time. “Laboratory testing ensures the safety of psilocybin products, and accurate labeling of psilocybin potency allows customers to attend dosing sessions with products that meet their needs.”