California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed legislation to accelerate the approval process for psychedelic research in mental health treatment, according to an Oct. 16 report from the Los Angeles Times.
Assembly Bill 1103, backed by San Diego-based nonprofit Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, aims to eliminate delays in approving FDA-authorized studies involving Schedule I and II drugs. The bill allows a subcommittee of the Research Advisory Panel of California to approve studies within days, bypassing the need for a full panel meeting.
The law will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, and is scheduled to remain in place through Jan. 1, 2028. It was created to address procedural delays that previously halted the panel’s meetings for 11 months, according to the report.
The advisory panel is unique to California and adds an extra layer of review for studies involving psychedelic compounds.
