Psilocybin vs. The DEA: Law, Ethics, Society & Drugs

Notwithstanding that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has twice designated psilocybin a Breakthrough Therapy—first for treatment-resistant depression and then for major depressive disorder, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has steadfastly refused to even initiate the process for rescheduling the drug. In early 2021, Dr. Sunil Aggarwal and Advanced Integrative Medical Science Institute, PLLC asked the DEA how he might obtain psilocybin for therapeutic use under Right to Try laws. In response, DEA said it had no authority to permit such uses because psilocybin is a schedule I drug permitted for research use only. 

DEA’s refusal to accommodate access to psylocibin under RTT, let alone open a scientific review related to a rescheduling petition, not only undermines congressional goals, but also exceeds its authority.  The food, drug and cosmetics act (FDCA), controlled substances act (CSA) and right to try (RTT) laws were created to protect the life and health of the public from dangerous and ineffective medications. But as was learned during the early days of the HIV/AIDS when those legal protections only produce suffering and death, they serve no legitimate legal and public health purpose. Sometimes government can do best for its citizens by simply stepping out of the way. 

This program will explore the potential therapeutic role of Psilocybin, and the paths available to meaningful scientific review of its use.

This event is eligible for Continuing Legal Education credits (CLE) for attorneys licensed in the State of New York. 

Information Regarding New York CLE Credits:

Columbia Law School has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board as an Accredited Provider of CLE programs. Under New York State CLE regulations, this live webinar for newly admitted and experienced CLE Program will provide 2 hours of New York CLE credit in the Areas of Professional Practice and Ethics and Professionalism categories. This CLE credit is awarded to New York attorneys for full attendance of the Program. Attendance is determined by an attorney's submission of their Attorney Attendance Affirmation forms with appropriate course codes noted. On submission of the Attorney Attendance Affirmations, attorneys also should submit their completed Evaluation Form, provided by the program organizers. Please note the NYS Certificates of Attendance will be sent to the email address as it appears in the register unless otherwise noted there."

Instructions on how to receive CLE credits:

Following the completion of the event, please download the CLE Forms (Attorney Attendance Affirmation form as well as the Evaluation form provided below) and fill them out with the necessary information including the two codes provided during the event. Please send completed forms to Athina Fontenot at af3018 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (af3018[at]columbia[dot]edu).

If you are an attorney licensed in another state (not New York), please provide the completed forms as stated above to Athina Fontenot at af3018 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (af3018[at]columbia[dot]edu) in order to receive a certificate of attendance which you may use in order to seek CLE credits in your home state. 

For additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at 212-854-9666 or inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (inquire[at]sps[dot]columbia[dot]edu). For more information, please contact Athina Fontenot at af3018 [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (af3018[at]columbia[dot]edu)