As Alaska lawmakers continued to advance legislation to study how to license and regulate psychedelic-assisted therapy in anticipation of federal approval, a new survey has found that nearly half (49.4 percent) of adults in the state would support a ballot measure to more broadly remove criminal penalties for using substances such as psilocybin mushrooms.
But that support rose markedly—to nearly two thirds (65 percent)—when participants were told that Alaska has high rates of mental illnesses that could potentially be treated with psychedelics.
The statewide survey of 1,179 Alaska residents was released last week by the Alaska Entheogenic Awareness Council (AKEAC), an advocacy group. It comes as momentum grows in the state for reform around psychedelics, which many see as a promising option to aid veterans and others with PTSD, treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions.
“It’s inspiring to see such a positive shift in how people view the use of these plant medicines,” AKEAC said in a statement about the new poll. “More people are recognizing the value of these substances in addressing certain mental health conditions.”
The findings, the advocacy group said, “underscore a growing sentiment among Alaskan residents for policy reforms that prioritize harm reduction,
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