Arizona Approves First-Of-Its-Kind Study Exploring Whole Mushroom Psilocybin Therapy To Treat PTSD

Arizona officials have approved and funded a first-in-the-nation clinical trial investigating the potential of whole mushroom psilocybin to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders and military veterans—with authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The state-funded study is being spearheaded by the Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), with support from the research firm Alira Health. The initial trial will involve eight police officers, eight firefighters and eight military veterans diagnosed with PTSD who will receive the psychedelic in a medically supervised environment.

With backing from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), the historic research project is being made possible by the enactment of a spending bill Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed into law in 2023 that earmarked $5 million in grants for psilocybin studies.

“Scientific progress is essential to ensuring that our healthcare decisions are informed by rigorous research and sound data,” Nicole Nichols, executive director at SRI, said in a press release on Tuesday.

The FDA-controlled trial will involve 24 participants with PTSD who will take 30 milligrams of psilocybin from about 4.5 grams of whole psilocybin mushrooms, grown at SRI’s facility that operates under a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Schedule I manufacturer license.

Arizona Sen. Kevin Payne (R), who championed the psilocybin research funding legislation, said the state is “proud to lead the way with this pioneering study, which reflects our commitment to evidence-based, responsible exploration of new treatment options for patients in need.”

SRI’s Sue Sisley said that the landmark clinical trial “reflects our mission to deliver real-world data that can guide policy and expand access to promising treatments for patients with PTSD.”

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This latest development comes months after Arizona lawmakers approved two different bills focused on psychedelic therapy.

The Senate passed a bill to create an advisory board tasked with studying the science of psilocybin, as well as state and federal policies surrounding the psychedelic, while the House separately approved a measure to fund clinical trials on ibogaine.

An earlier version of the Senate psilocybin bill moved through both chambers last year with regulated therapeutic access provisions for adults, but it was vetoed by the Democratic governor, who argued that “we do not yet have the evidence needed to support widespread clinical expansion.”

Meanwhile, ahead of the House vote on the ibogaine research bill, former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)—who also championed psychedelics reform while serving in Congress—called on the state legislature to pass the legislation, while pledging to personally raise $5 million in philanthropic donations to support the psychedelic research if it’s is ultimately enacted.

Separately, Hobbs signed a bill into law last year that would allow firefighters and peace officers with PTSD to get workers’ compensation coverage for MDMA therapy if it is federally legalized.

Photo courtesy of Dick Culbert.