The first time Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation on psychedelic drugs, her proposal came with an unwanted side effect: It gave her colleagues a case of the giggles. Here's more.
WASHINGTON - The first time Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation on psychedelic drugs, her proposal came with an unwanted side effect: It gave her colleagues a case of the giggles.
It was a frustrating experience for the congresswoman, then only six months into the job. It was 2019, not 1969, and there was evidence that drugs such as psilocybin and MDMA might offer therapeutic benefits to those suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction. And although she wasn't opposed to legalizing such drugs to some degree, her bill wasn't even about that.
And, slowly but surely, Capitol Hill: "Plant medicines like psilocybin and ayahuasca ... they are beautiful because they give you exactly what you need, even if you don't know what it is you need," Veronica Duron, chief of staff for Sen. Cory Booker , told me in an interview last year. Supporters of psychedelic drug legislation are banking on the fact that these drugs have proved to have a specific mind-bending quality to them, namely that they offer something for all sorts of constituencies.
Rodgers said he's working pro bono on psychedelics legalization, a topic important to many tribes for spiritual ceremonies, and also because of the possibility of using them to treat widespread mental health issues that affect Indigenous people at disproportionately high rates. Later, Rodgers met with Rep. J. Luis Correa , the caucus's other co-chair, who took a break from a Judiciary Committee hearing to share his thoughts - political and personal - about psychedelic drugs.Correa said he used to smoke cannabis in junior high, often while watching "Reefer Madness" on VHS with his friends for a laugh. Then he became vocally anti-drug as he got older and saw the "destruction" that drugs and alcohol could cause.
"'I'm a Marine. I tried to kill myself four times,'" Crenshaw recalled him saying. Nothing seemed to help, the man said, until he got himself into a psychedelics treatment program with MDMA. Now, this man, a lobbyist named Jonathan Lubecky, was an advocate for psychedelic medicine."I was like, 'Holy s---, twice in one night? Something I've never heard about before?'" Crenshaw told me. "Well, that's a sign.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meta takes aim at Twitter with Threads app, millions joinThose quick to join the new platform included celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez as well as prominent politicians such as Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Read more »
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $6.2 million in first 2 months of Senate raceAllred also transferred $2.4 million from his House campaign account, giving him $8.6 million in total receipts through the end of June.
Read more »
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $6.2 million in first 2 months of Senate raceAllred also transferred $2.4 million from his House campaign account, giving him $8.6 million in total receipts through the end of June.
Read more »
U.S. Rep. Colin Allred raises $6.2 million in first 2 months of Senate raceAllred also transferred $2.4 million from his House campaign account, giving him $8.6 million in total receipts through the end of June.
Read more »
Former Rep. Mondaire Jones launches comeback bid for House seat in New YorkJones will face a Democratic primary against Liz Whitmer Gereghty, an education advocate and the sister of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
Read more »