Oklahoma On Track to Approve Magic Mushrooms for Medicinal Use

For literal decades now, PTSD has been a rampant and undertreated condition of those who most famously went off to war in service to our country. Living in a military town, I think most people know at least one person that fought this battle to varying outcomes.

Using US military information as the baseline example, even though the wars in the middle east are over, military member suicide is still rising at such an alarming rate, the brass and pencil-pushers in Washington have finally accepted the need to intervene.

Just over a year ago, Oklahoma State Representative Daniel Pae introduced legislation to pave a legal way to explore the potential medicinal benefits of psilocybin "magic mushrooms" to treat PTSD. It has passed through the first committee and looks as if it will be put to a vote in the Oklahoma House.

The standard treatment for PTSD in the last twenty years has been a mix of antidepressants and psychotherapy if and when therapists were available. Results have been underwhelming.

Antidepressants have been shown to have little-to-no positive effect on those who've experienced multiple traumas or chronic cases of the condition, and viable therapy has been approached with the same response as any other military health options...

Truth be told until Raytheon or Northrop Grummon starts subcontracting therapists, there won't be any available pentagon money to fund the mental health aspect of war recovery.

Let's take a little trip.

There are a handful of studies out there that show positive potential in the use of magic mushrooms to literally repair the brain with outcomes far more successful than big pharma drugs.

While the emphasis may be put on finding a real treatment for PTSD, the studies suggest psilocybin could tremendously help those with traumatic brain injuries, depression, chronic anxiety disorders, and those who are tackling end-of-life care.

It's not without risks.

Like any form of medication, there are pros and cons, but instead of risking an accelerated risk of cancer, death, or digestional issues, the biggest risk to someone being treated with magic mushrooms is having a bad trip.

While it seems innocuous on the face of it, scientists that have performed studies say a bad experience could mentally scar a patient even further, possibly making their condition worse.

Without expanding research, there's no way to tell if the pros actually outweigh that risky and big con... That's what Rep. Daniel Pae is seeking to achieve in creating a lawful way to study this fungus in a clinical setting for Oklahomans.

Time will tell what the outcome will be, the committee vote of approval wasn't unanimous, and there's no telling which way our waving representatives will lean on the matter... but for now, it's moving forward.

You can follow and track the progress of the bill here.