CHICAGO – State Representative Lindsey LaPointe, Chair of the House Mental Health & Addiction Committee, will host a hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 10 on “Psychedelics as Behavioral Health Treatment”, to shed light on the potential of psychedelics to alleviate mental health, addiction, PTSD and trauma issues. The hearing will include insight from behavioral health professionals and consumers, along with testimony on the importance of House Bill 1/Senate Bill 3695, known as the Illinois CURE Act sponsored by State Representative La Shawn K. Ford and State Senator Rachel Ventura.

“We are in the midst of a behavioral health crisis. In addition to our dogged work to increase access to support— from ongoing affordable therapy to harm reduction interventions — it’s time we take a thoughtful look at alternative approaches, like psychedelics, to help Illinoisans struggling with distress,” said LaPointe (D-Chicago).

The CURE Act – or the Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act – aims to tackle treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, it would facilitate research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that residents can access healthcare options that enhance their wellbeing, particularly with promising treatments like psilocybin,” said Ford (D-Chicago). “To achieve this, we must engage stakeholders in constructive dialogue to shape a collective path forward for medical access. While it's crucial that we advance this initiative, we must also prioritize a responsible implementation process with the necessary safeguards in place.”

State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, who filed the House version of the Illinois CURE Act, will testify in support of the legislation.

“Plant medicine, such as psilocybin, has long been stigmatized and I am proud to see the bipartisanship collaboration on this historic legislation that would aid not only veterans, but all Illinoisans, suffering from mental illnesses, PTSD, substance abuse and more,” said Ventura (D-Joliet). “Integrated therapy-based sessions following exposure would create real change in an individual’s life who has exhausted other methods previously. Psilocybin would open new pathways in the brain to help pinpoint things that need to be worked on.”

The bill would also establish the Illinois Psilocybin Advisory Board under the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which would create a training program, ethical standards, and licensing requirements. Additionally, psychedelic therapies would be administered in controlled, supervised settings to ensure safety and treatment effectiveness. Retail sales of these medicines would be prohibited and could only be used under supervision at designated service centers.

Ventura introduced the measure earlier this year and held a Senate subject matter hearing. The House Behavioral Health Committee Subject Matter Hearing is planned to begin at 1 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Bilandic Building in Chicago, and will be available to watch on ilga.gov.