Medical magic mushrooms could soon be legal in state
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... A bill that would legalize medical magic mushrooms in New Jersey has landed on the desk of Governor Phil Murphy.
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The legislation, sponsored by state Senate President Nick Scutari, would legalize the production and use of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes in New Jersey Psilocybin is the drug found in psychedelic mushrooms.
..... "I think it's a real opportunity for New Jersey to lead an area of medicine that is groundbreaking," Scutari said after the bill was approved by the state Senate and the Assembly on January 12. [2026]
..... Scutari called the potential legalization of claimed psilocybin an opportunity for "people not in a good space in their life" to be able to use a medical procedure that has been demonstrated to be effective in studies and in piratical clinical sue elsewhere in the U.S.
..... In New Jersey, access to medical mushrooms, as prescribed by the legislation, will be provided at three hospitals that have not yet been determined.
..... Though Scutari said he has no preference on which hospitals are selected, he thinks it will be facilities that are in the "right position to do it" and that it is not necessarily something every hospital will want to participate in.
..... Ultimately it will be up to the state Department of Health to determine which hospitals are involved, according to the legislation.
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The Journal of American Medical Association published a report in 2023 saying a single dose of treatment provided a "significant sustained reduction" in symptoms of depression without serious "adverse events." Similar findings have been published for treatment of conditions such as post-traumatice stress disorder and cluster headaches.
How would the program start?
..... The legislation would cerate a two-year pilot program that would see the drug administered at hospitals and patent's experiences would be monitored under strict medical supervision.
..... The state would use the research and information from the clinical trials to decide whether there should be a "psilocybin care delivery system" that would allow access to the drug for residents suffering form acute mental health disorders. The Health Department and an advisory board of 11 would be in charge of the program. The board would evaluate the outcomes of the program and make recommendation to the Legislature about moving forward with therapeutic access to psilocybin mushrooms.
..... The program would cost the state about $6 million. Each of the three hospitals would be chosen in a bidding process and receive $2 million.
What's next?
..... If the bill signed by Murphy, New Jessey would join Oregon and Colorado as the only sates with legal, regulated psilocybin services.
..... Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email sobko@northjersey.com