What Is Senate Bill 58?
California Senate Bill 58 would legalize personal use of certain natural psychedelics. It passed the California Senate in May and the Assembly earlier this month with strong bi-partisan support, and is now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law. The scope of the measure has been scaled back by various amendments imposed in legislative committees, but the core is preserved.
The proposed law would legalize limited possession and cultivation of natural psychedelics like mescaline-containing cacti (except peyote), DMT (present in Ayahuasca tea), and psilocybin mushrooms, for adults over 21. It would eliminate penalties for personal use of natural psychedelics, acknowledging their therapeutic potential for mental health conditions. Adults who take these substances in the right set and setting, with proper preparation and integration, and who are not contra-indicated by schizophrenia, have experienced therapeutic benefits especially for mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and anxiety.
Urge Gov. Newsom to Sign SB58 into Law!
If you believe in decriminalizing natural psychedelic medicines in California, here’s how you can have a direct impact:
- Download this letter (also shown below) and open using MS Word or Adobe Reader
- Save the letter as a PDF (how to save a document in PDF)
- Attach it in an email with subject: SB 58 (Wiener) – Request for Signature
- Send to Leg.Unit@gov.ca.gov
The best option is to send a PDF version of the letter with your signature (detailed above). If this isn’t an option for you, you can:
- Copy the contents of the letter below into an email
- Use subject: SB 58 (Wiener) – Request for Signature
- Send to Leg.Unit@gov.ca.gov
Subject: SB 58 (Wiener) – Request for Signature
The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor of California
1021 O St., Suite 9000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Governor Newsom:
Millions of Californians are struggling with serious mental health challenges. Daily medications, therapy, and other coping mechanisms help some people get by — but for many, these tools aren’t working.
Research from top universities shows that natural psychedelic substances can help people with treatment-resistant depression, end-of-life anxiety, and other severe mental health conditions. By enacting SB 58, California can offer hope to veterans, first responders, assault survivors, and those diagnosed with terminal illnesses. The bill updates outdated drug laws to remove the threat of criminal punishment for Californians seeking healing. Specifically, SB 58 would:
- Remove criminal penalties for the limited possession of: psilocybin, mescaline (except from peyote), and dimethyltryptamine.
- Create a working group to develop recommendations by 2025 that put California in a position to establish a program for facilitated therapeutic use in the future.
Psychedelic therapy with psilocybin shows so much promise that the FDA recently granted it a “breakthrough therapy” designation for depression, meaning that it may demonstrate substantial improvement over what’s currently available. Veterans and many others in our state are seeking out these plant-based psychedelic substances to find relief. SB 58 removes the stigma of criminalization, promotes safer use, and encourages people to seek education and information.
At a time of crisis in mental health, SB 58 offers hope by providing Californians in need the opportunity for psychedelic therapy and personal healing.
Sincerely,
Signature (handwritten or e-signature):
Name:
Address: