Literature Review

Hospice Insights Podcast - Psychedelics and end of life care: Understanding the legal landscape Hospice Insight - The Law and Beyond; by Husch Blackwell LLP; 3/12/25 There has been a lot of buzz around psychedelics, and particularly their potential usefulness in treating existential suffering at the end of life. Husch Blackwell was the first law firm in the country to establish a Psychedelics & Emerging Therapies practice group devoted to helping clinicians, researchers, and investors navigate the complex and difficult legal and regulatory issues involved in developing new therapies in this space. In this episode, host Meg Pekarske is joined by the leaders of Husch Blackwell’s Psychedelics & Emerging Therapies practice group, Kimberly Chew, Karen Luong, and Natasha Sumner, who provide an overview of what psychedelics are, their legal status under federal and state laws, and liability considerations for clinicians.

Hallucinogens may elevate death risk by more than twofold Medscape; by Liz Scherer; 3/5/25 Hallucinogens are associated with a 2.6-fold increased risk for premature death in some individuals seeking emergency care, according to a recent study. The risks are especially substantial in vulnerable patients who are suicidal, who are susceptible to severe mental illness, or have comorbid conditions such as respiratory disease or cancer. The findings come at a time of renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of substances like psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine for mood and substance use disorders. In 2023, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research allocated roughly $3 million to three clinical trials examining psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of alcohol use disorder, treatment-resistant depression, and end-of-life psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer.

Quality indicators for palliative care established European Cooperation in Sciene and Technology (COST); 9/12/24 Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that each year, an estimated 56.8 million people, including 25.7 million in the last year of life, need palliative care. ... To tackle these issues, the Council of Europe, WHO, and the United Nations have addressed these problems and established international standards and recommendations to improve palliative care worldwide. ... Teaching palliative care demands a culturally sensitive and inclusive curriculum, a specific mix of skills and expertise, and innovative teaching methods. European recommendations exist for undergraduate medical, nursing, psychology, and social work education and postgraduate training in medicine. ...

Optimi Health and Psyence Biomedical sign non-binding letter of intent to advance global psilocybin drug development Psyence Biomedical Ltd; by Andrea Mestrovic; 8/13/24 Optimi Health Corp. ..., a GMP-approved, Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in botanical psilocybin and MDMA, and Psyence Biomedical Ltd., ... a developer of nature-derived psilocybin-based therapeutics, are pleased to announce that the companies have entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent (“LOI”). This arrangement would position Optimi as the exclusive supplier of GMP nature-derived (non-synthetic) psilocybin extract for Psyence’s global drug development and commercialization initiatives for FDA-approved use in the Palliative Care context.

Top ten tips palliative care clinicians should know about the psychiatric manifestations of nonpsychiatric serious illness and treatments Journal of Palliative Medicine; by Gregg A Robbins-Welty, Paul A Riordan, Daniel Shalev, Danielle Chammas, Paul Noufi, Keri O Brenner, Joshua Briscoe, William E Rosa, Jason A Webb; 5/10/24... Among patients receiving palliative care (PC), psychiatric comorbidities are common and impact patient quality of life. ... This article, created collaboratively with a team of psychiatric-palliative care experts, is the second in a two-part series examining the bidirectional relationship between medical and psychiatric illness in PC. This article explores 10 prevalent psychiatric manifestations associated with severe illness and its treatment. [Additional access requires journal subscription or additional payment]

Palliative care’s psychedelic futuretruthdig, by Jane C. Hu; 2/14/24In Oregon, hospice doctors are expanding the menu of treatments for end-of-life anxiety and depression.

Psychedelic therapy debate returns to Missouri General AssemblyMissouri Independent, by Rebecca Rivas; 1/30/24Numerous clinical studies nationwide have shown positive results from using psilocybin to treat PTSD, depressiona and substance use. Republican lawmakers are once again pushing legislation that would require Missouri to conduct a clinical study on using psilocybin, more commonly referred to as “magic mushrooms,” to treat depression, substance use or as part end-of-life care. ... In the House Veterans Committee on Tuesday, Republican Rep. Aaron McMullen of Independence plans to present an amended version of the bill that would limit its scope to only veterans. The suicide rate among veterans in Missouri is nearly double the state rate and one of the highest in the country. ... McMullen, a veteran who served in a combat unit in Afghanistan, told The Independent, “While psilocybin is not a panacea for every issue, it represents a first true scientifically-validated hope that we have to address this crisis.”

CT to consider decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms. What you should know.Hartford CourantDecember 10, 2023... In the same way that marijuana was considered for decades as an illegal drug, a societal shift allowed a refocus on medical marijuana for pain relief and other uses. Now, mushrooms are also being viewed for their potential benefits though some politicians still remain skeptical. The next step is that advocates want to decriminalize possession of small amounts of mushrooms, and they will be pushing for that in the 2024 legislative session. The state House of Representatives passed a bill last year, but the issue was never debated in the Senate before time ran out. Now, in a short session that starts in early February, advocates are taking another chance at decriminalization.

Oregon’s legal psilocybin clinics draw hundreds—mostly from out of state