Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggests psychedelic change

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is known for making headlines, and her latest action that has caught the eye is her support for further studies on psychedelic drugs.

Ocasio-Cortez introduced a change that would encourage future studies on psychedelic substances like MDMA, psilocybin, and ibogaine. The “Amendment to Division A of Rules Committee Print 117-12” suggests serious reflection on the future of psychedelic substances in the US “US researchers are investigating and investigating the potential effects of several List I drugs, such as MDMA, psilocybin and, or ibogaine, that have been shown to be effective in treating critical illnesses, ”the amendment reads.

This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez has tried to involve Congress in considering the therapeutic properties of psychedelics. Two years ago, she tabled an amendment to remove a provision that prevents scientists from doing free research on substances like psilocybin or MDMA.

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Representative Ocasio-Cortez on the war on drugs

However, the House of Representatives rejected the proposal. “I firmly believe in evidence-based policymaking,” Ocasio-Cortez said during a floor debate on the subject in 2019. “And wherever there is evidence of the good, we have a moral obligation to monitor and research the parameters for it. ” Good. Even if it means questioning our past assumptions or admitting past injustices. “

She also tried to appeal to both parties, stating that sooner or later this could be part of our future in the medical world. “I understand that the politics of this bill could make it difficult for some to endorse it now,” she added. “But I propose this amendment and call on my colleagues to support it, because politics is not always about winning today, but about fighting for what is right in the future and for future generations.”

Ocasio-Cortez is a vocal advocate of psychedelic substances for the treatment of certain medical conditions. She recently spoke out in favor of decriminalizing cannabis when it became known that Sha’Carri Richardson would no longer participate in the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for THC.

“The criminalization and prohibition of cannabis is an instrument of racist and colonial politics,” she tweeted on July 2nd. In October 2020, she declared that it would take functioning members of both the Democratic and Republican parties to end the war on drugs and legalize recreational cannabis forever.

“There are several ways we can legalize cannabis in the United States, and you can do so with power rolled into one [Big Agriculture] Sage that concentrates power in big banks and turns off little mommies and pops, ”she said in a digital meeting on YouTube. “And then there is another avenue to legalization where ordinary people, and especially the black and brown communities disproportionately affected by the war on drugs, can be on the front lines to enjoy the economic benefits of legalization.”

Ocasio-Cortex even hired former marijuana policy project leader Dan Riffle to join their staff.

It will take more than one staunch member of Congress to bring about change in terms of cannabis and psychedelics. Aside from Ocasio-Cortez’s recent amendment, there is also a report attached to the spending law for fiscal 2022 that piques interest in medical psychedelic treatment for military veterans.

However, there are just as many proposals to prevent growth in these sectors. According to Marijuana Moment, MP Debbie Lesko tabled a proposal that would remove a recently implemented tab that would allow “federal funding to go to colleges doing marijuana research”.

All of these proposals and many more will be discussed in the House of Representatives on Monday, July 26th.