In a significant step towards exploring alternative therapies for mental health treatment, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed the Honoring, Empowering and Recognizing Our Service Members and Veterans (HERO) Act into law. This comprehensive legislation includes a provision to establish a psychedelics working group focused on studying the potential therapeutic benefits of substances like psilocybin and MDMA for military veterans.
The HERO Act, initially introduced by Healey in November 2023, passed through the legislature in its amended form and was subsequently signed into law. The newly formed working group will have the task of evaluating existing literature, research trials, and expert opinions to determine whether psychedelic therapy can improve mental health outcomes for veterans diagnosed with mental health disorders. This workgroup, convened by the Executive Office of Veterans’ Services (EOVS), will assess the viability of psychedelic therapies and is required to issue a report with findings and recommendations by January 1, 2025. The report will be submitted to the clerks of the House and Senate and relevant legislative committees.
Rebecca Slater, a veterans community facilitator at the Boston Psychedelic Research Group and co-founder of the Open Circle Alliance, expressed strong support for the HERO Act, particularly the creation of the psychedelics working group. “We are especially enthusiastic about the creation of a working group to study the benefits of psychedelic medicine to treat PTSD, making good on the promise of cutting-edge research from leading medical institutions like Mass General Hospital and Johns Hopkins,” she said in a press release. Several veterans’ organizations also voiced their support for this legislation.
The passage of the HERO Act comes amid broader discussions on psychedelics in Massachusetts. Earlier this year, a joint legislative committee recommended against a broader psychedelics legalization initiative that had gained significant support from activists. Despite this setback, the HERO Act’s provisions reflect a growing interest in alternative therapies for veterans’ mental health, particularly in light of the challenges associated with PTSD and other conditions. Eight cities in Massachusetts, including Cambridge and Somerville, have already enacted local policies to deprioritize the enforcement of laws against psychedelics. These efforts, spearheaded by grassroots organizations, highlight the increasing momentum behind the movement to explore the therapeutic potential of these substances.
