First meeting of Hawaiian Psychedelic Task Force experts

The Hawaii Office of Wellness and Resilience recently announced that the Breakthrough Therapies Task Force held its first meeting on August 29th.

The task force consists of 11 individuals tasked with researching and researching the therapeutic potential of MDMA and psilocybin. “It is made up of local doctors, psychiatrists, mental health professionals and government partners,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a press release. “This first meeting represents an important milestone in advancing the recognition and understanding of the potential benefits of access to therapeutic psychedelics in Hawaii. Members include Hawaii-based mental health professionals, government officials, legislators, physicians, therapists and more.”

The press release states that “modern science is now catching up” on the benefits of certain psychedelic substances, despite the fact that many indigenous cultures have been using these substances for thousands of years. Inspired by states like Oregon, which passed a therapeutic psilocybin access program in 2020, and Colorado, which passed a similar program in 2022, Hawaii is making efforts to study its benefits as well. “Research has shown that both psilocybin and MDMA have significant and unprecedented efficacy in the clinical management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, end-of-life fears in end-stage patients, eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and more.” it further in the press release.

One of the task force members, Sean Munnelly, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and addiction specialist at the US Department of Veterans Affairs who prepared a statement on the importance of the task force. “We are now on the precipice of an exciting movement in healthcare and awareness,” Munnelly said. “The FDA’s designation of MDMA and psilocybin as breakthrough therapies heralds a potentially paradigm-shifting moment. For this to happen safely, the formation of a multidisciplinary task force of experts is essential. These individuals will be responsible for establishing guidelines for safe and responsible practices here in Hawaii.”

The task force is due to deliver a report of its findings by the end of 2023, which will include an analysis of current psychedelic therapy programs in both Oregon and Colorado. The report will also address other important issues related to psilocybin supply, licensing related to both guides and integration coaches, administrative requirements, and discuss patient “safety, access and affordability”.

Four members of the task force are involved in an organization called the Clarity Project, which aims to raise awareness of the therapeutic benefits of plant medicine. As part of the Clarity Project, a face-to-face public event entitled “Breaking Through Trauma: The Case for Psilocybin & MDMA” is scheduled to take place on September 8th in Honolulu, Hawaii.

“Consistent with Hawaii’s commitment to well-being, resilience and mental health care, the Breakthrough Therapies Task Force underscores the state’s commitment to exploring effective and innovative approaches to mental health treatment,” the press release concludes. “By harnessing the potential of breakthrough therapies and creating a regulated psychedelic therapy program, Hawaii seeks to provide its residents with comprehensive, compassionate, and effective therapeutic care options.”

While the potential of psilocybin is still being explored, the case for cannabis is growing in Hawaii. The state began licensing medicinal cannabis dispensaries back in July 2015, 15 years after former Gov. Ben Cayetano signed the bill legalizing medicinal cannabis into law. Since the first pharmacy opened in 2017, a total of 22 pharmacies have opened statewide (two on Kauai, five on Maui, nine on Oahu, and six on the Big Island of Hawaii). In 2018, the state introduced a new policy allowing those who are medical cannabis card holders in other states or US territories to obtain a special permit to purchase cannabis in Hawaii.

As of July 2019, the state has decriminalized small amounts of cannabis, but legalizing cannabis for adults is a work in progress. The Hawaii Senate passed legislation legalizing it in March 2021, but took no further action.

Earlier this year, Hawaii Rep. Jeanné Kapela, along with members of the Marijuana Policy Project, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and the ACLU Hawaii, announced new efforts to end cannabis prohibition in the state. “We all know, and the people of Hawaii know, that it is high time adult recreational cannabis use was legalized in Hawaii. This year we stand on the precipice of history,” explained Kapela. “Based on the recommendations of a task force looking at cannabis policy, we now have a roadmap for legalizing recreational cannabis on our islands,” she said, referring to a December 2022 report released by the Hawaii Department of Health.

A legalization bill called SB669 SD2 was introduced in January and passed overwhelmingly in a vote in the Hawaii Senate in March. However, it was not possible to negotiate before an important legislative deadline in the House of Representatives.

If a bill legalizing cannabis can be passed in full in Congress, there’s a good chance adult-use cannabis is in Hawaii’s future. Governor Green has previously stated that he would consider enacting legalization under certain conditions. “First of all, if marijuana is legalized, it should be monitored very carefully and consumed only like cigarettes, otherwise I’ve been very careful to regulate tobacco over the years,” Green said in November 2022. “We should see the 30th… dollars.” We would receive up to $40 million in taxes from this and invest in the development and renewal of our mental health system for the benefit of all.”