Minnesota’s Psychedelic Medicine Task Force has released a long-awaited legislative report. It recommends that the state move toward decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms and regulating their therapeutic use, as well as funding research into other psychedelics. State lawmakers will now have to decide whether and how to act on it.
The Task Force was established by the Minnesota legislature through an omnibus bill in April 2023, to advise on complex policy, health, cultural and legal issues related to psychedelics. Its final report was published on January 1.
The 20 Task Force members were appointed by various state departments, the attorney general and the governor, and included experts in medicine, law, public health and cultural studies. They met monthly from November 2023 to December 2024, with other subject-matter experts also contributing to the meetings.
Their report ultimately makes three key recommendations, each of which was backed by a required two-thirds supermajority of the members.
“These recommendations mark a significant step forward in recognizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.”
First, it calls for the creation of a state-regulated clinical program for the therapeutic use of psilocybin mushrooms. Second, it proposes removing criminal penalties for the personal use and possession of mushrooms. Third, it advocates that state funds be allocated to further research into potential health benefits of the psychedelic drugs MDMA and LSD, as well as psilocybin.
“These recommendations mark a significant step forward in recognizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics while ensuring safe and equitable access for Minnesotans,” the report states. “We envision a framework that evolves alongside scientific understanding, public sentiment, and legal developments.”
The Task Force also explored several other proposals; while each had their supporters among the members, none achieved the supermajority support to become official recommendations. They included removing criminal penalties for the cultivation and sharing of psilocybin mushrooms for personal use; decriminalizing MDMA and LSD for personal use; creating clinical programs for the therapeutic use of MDMA and LSD; and establishing a regulated adult-use market for psilocybin mushrooms.
The report emphasizes that while these measures did not receive two-thirds backing from the Task Force, they remain viable options for future consideration.
Task Force members “are hopeful that now, the citizens of Minnesota will start reaching out to their legislators to let them know this should be a priority.”
Dr. Jessica Nielsen, who served as the elected chair of the Task Force, told Filter that while, “this report is only a reference for any legislation that might get introduced,” the members are keen to maintain momentum through coalition-building, and by sparking advocacy.
She and her fellow members “are hopeful that now that the report is released, the citizens of Minnesota will start reaching out to their legislators to let them know this should be a priority for them this session,” said Nielsen, who is also the founder and president of the Psychedelic Society of Minnesota.
Some psychedelic advocates in Minnesota have praised the report for advancing evidence-based approaches to mental health care.
Others, however, feel it doesn’t reach far enough in areas such as protecting participants in legacy psychedelics markets and communities.
“The Psychedelic Task Force recommendations, while a step forward, fall short in community autonomy and equal opportunity,” Jade Mycelia, founder of Big Psych Minnesota, told Filter. “Without funding and protections, local cultivators and community-run psychedelic spaces are limited in open development and innovation.”
“Greater inclusion of grassroots advocates could have ensured more equitable outcomes.”
“We deeply appreciate those on the task force who advocated for community-centered approaches,” Mycelia added, “and believe greater inclusion of grassroots advocates could have ensured more equitable outcomes.”
The recommendations also have opponents in anti-legalization groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), which have raised concerns about potential for problematic use and unintended health consequences. In response, the report underlines the need for a robust public education campaign to mitigate such risks.
The Task Force’s work—in a state which legalized cannabis for medical use in 2014 and for adult use in 2023—comes amid a growing national and global movement to reassess the legal status of psychedelics.
In recent years, cities like Denver and Oakland, along with states such as Oregon and Colorado, have decriminalized certain psychedelics or established regulated frameworks for therapeutic use. Research has meanwhile increasingly highlighted psychedelics’ potential to treat mental health conditions where conventional therapies have fallen short.
According to a 2024 report from the Minnesota Department of Health, rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD have surged in recent years, with many residents reporting limited access to effective treatments. Advocates argue that psychedelics could fill critical gaps in the mental health care if integrated thoughtfully and responsibly.
“The report has bipartisan support. I hope that a bill could be a unifying issue that helps give people hope for healing.”
How Minnesota’s Democrat-controlled legislature will react to the Task Force’s recommendations remains to be seen. Nielsen highlighted that while Minnesota is home to a diverse psychedelic advocacy coalition, it remains in search of “a champion in the legislature to introduce and move [psychedelic legislation] through the different committees.”
Nonetheless, “the report has bipartisan support,” she said. “I hope that a bill to provide access to psychedelic medicines could be a unifying issue that helps give people hope for healing across the board.”
The Task Force suggests a phased approach, allowing for gradual implementation as public awareness, scientific understanding and the national landscape evolve. “Incremental change is key to building trust and ensuring the safety and efficacy of these policies,” the report states.
The report also calls for continued collaboration with federal agencies and other states exploring psychedelic policy reform, seeking to align state initiatives with nationwide efforts to advance psychedelic research and regulation.
Photograph by afgooey74 via Flickr/Creative Commons 2.0