SB 5263, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D–Shoreline), would legalize psilocybin for therapeutic purposes for people 21+. Unlike regulated substances like cannabis which are authorized for sale for recreational use, only trained and licensed facilitators would be allowed to administer psilocybin for therapeutic purposes.

Under the law, the state Department of Health (DOH) would be primarily responsible for licensing and regulating the new industry. The bill establishes a Washington Psilocybin Advisory Board that would research and recommend a comprehensive regulatory framework during a two-year development period following the bill’s passage. DOH would be authorized to begin accepting applications for manufacturing, service centers, or test products beginning September 2025.

There is a lot more in this 81-page bill, but we wanted to let you know the impact to cities:

• Cities would not be authorized to tax (or impose a fee on) manufacture or sale of psilocybin products.
• Cities could adopt ordinances that impose the following “reasonable” regulations on the operations of businesses:
  • Conditions on the manner in which a psilocybin product manufacturer that holds a license may manufacture psilocybin products.
  • Conditions on the manner in which a center operates services.
  • Limitations on the hours during which a center may operate.
  • Requirements limited to the public’s access to a center.
  • Limitations on where a center may be located.
  • However, cities may not require a center or manufacturer to be located at a distance greater than 1,000 feet from a school (or more than 500 feet from a school if there is a physical or geographic barrier that prevents children from accessing the property).
• Cities would be required to notify DOH of any conviction of a violation of the statute and two-way communication between the state and local governments is mentioned throughout, including a hotline that city employees could call to determine if a manufacturer or service center holds a license or is operating illegally.

Dates to remember

SB 5263 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Labor & Commerce committee on Monday, January 30 at 10:30 am.