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Missouri Lawmakers Push to Make Psilocybin Legal for Veterans

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2024

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When State Senator Holly Thompson Rehder (R-Sikeston) first heard about the idea to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use, she was adamantly opposed to it. But the more she learned about the drug and studies on its uses, the more intrigued she became. “I was so impressed,” Rehder tells the RFT, “and just amazed at the outcomes that these other studies were showing for people who had chronic depression, substance use disorder, PTSD — it’s amazing.” That change of heart led Rehder to introduce SB 768 this session, which aims to legalize psilocybin, the drug that puts the “magic” in magic mushrooms, for therapeutic use among veterans. The bill had its first reading on January 3; it is the companion bill to HB 1830, which Representative Aaron McMullen (R-Independence), introduced in the house. Both bills have moved out of their respective committees with “do pass” recommendations. If passed, these bills would allow veterans over 21 years old with diagnosed mental disabilities such as PTSD or depression to use psilocybin in a clinical setting as part of a study with a medical professional. Rehder’s bill would further grant $3 million dollars to Missouri universities and medical research agencies to study the impact of the drug on these mental health issues. Already, a growing body of research supports the approach. Bethany Mealy, a therapist with a private practice, offered written witness testimony in support of McMullen’s bill. “The science of the effectiveness of psilocybin use for mental health diagnoses leaves no room for interpretation other than that it is extremely effective. During my time as a facilitator on the second arm of the phase 1 psilocybin study, I witnessed such transformation,” Mealy wrote. “I can’t help but think of one participant in particular who was an EMT. He came to this study because he was feeling immense burnout and suffering from PTSD-like symptoms due to his work. This individual left this study feeling like his slate had been wiped clean and reported significant reduction in his PTSD symptoms.” With a treatment so effective at helping those at a higher suicide risk, Mealy asked, how can legislators oppose the bill in good conscience? “Psilocybin can be a life saving medicine. It can also be a life-altering medicine in terms of symptom reduction and clearing. The science is there,” Mealy wrote. “Psychedelics are a catalyst for healing, and they are showing to be a catalyst that can expedite healing as well [as] provide healing that runs deep. Please, please, please consider supporting HB 1830, peoples’ lives depend on it.” This isn’t the first time Missouri lawmakers have attempted to legalize the use of psilocybin in a therapeutic setting. State Republicans in both the House and the Senate have filed similar legislation the past few years, with 2023’s attempt primarily championed by State Representative Tony Lovasco (R-O’Fallon). But when legislators tried to pass the bills last year, they were blocked by opponents who didn’t want to legalize magic mushrooms. These representatives tanked the bill on the last day of the legislative session, Rehder says. “Honestly, it’s because they equate this to your psychedelics of the ’70s and not what it is today, which is a therapeutic remedy for chronic depression, PTSD and substance use disorder,” Rehder says. “It’s done in a clinical study. It’s not like somebody can go pick up mushrooms at the same place they are picking up marijuana.” Sponsors were initially met with the same block this year, Rehder says, which is why the bills were tailored to serve veterans specifically. Since then, Rehder has spoken with some of the representatives who were strictly opposed to her bill who now say that, while they won’t vote yes, they also won’t block it. So sponsors of the legislation are hopeful that this will be the session such a measure passes. While psilocybin may not work for everyone, veterans — who are historically at a higher risk of suicide — deserve to be able to access treatment without the government standing in the way, Lovasco and Rehder agree. For his part, Lovasco was also skeptical of the treatment when he first heard of it, he says. But after diving into the research he learned that it holds a lot of promise and hope for veterans who are otherwise struggling. It may take some time before the legislation passes, but everyone he has spoken to about it is at least open to the idea, he tells the RFT. “A lot of folks just need that kind of experience of talking to folks, seeing the actual evidence, the medical experts’ testimony makes a big difference,” Lovasco says. “You hear ‘magic mushrooms’ and you think about recreational drug use, which is not at all what this is about. And so, quite frankly, I think it’s just a matter of educating people in the General Assembly about the realities of this actual medicinal product in that clinical setting.”

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Fenton Man Charged in Sword Attack on Roommate

Published

1 year ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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A warrant is out for a Fenton man’s arrest after he allegedly attacked his roommate with a sword.

Police say that on Sunday, Angelus Scott spoke openly about “slicing his roommate’s head” before he grabbed a sword, raised it up and then swung it down at the roommate.

The roommate grabbed Scott’s hand in time to prevent injury. When police arrived at the scene, they found the weapon used in the assault.

The sword in question was a katana, which is a Japanese sword recognizable for its curved blade.

This isn’t the first time a samurai-style sword has been used to violent effect in St. Louis. In 2018, a man hearing voices slaughtered his ex-boyfriend with a samurai sword. His mother said he suffered from schizoaffective disorder.

As for Scott, 35, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was charged yesterday with two felonies, assault first degree and armed criminal action. The warrant for his arrest says he is to be held on $200,000 bond.

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Caught on Video, Sheriff Says He’s Ready to ‘Turn It All Over’ to Deputy

Published

1 year ago

May 22, 2024

Natural Bridge

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Video of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts taken by a former deputy suggests that the sheriff has a successor in mind to hand the reins of the department over to, even as Betts is in an increasingly heated campaign for reelection.

“I ain’t here for all this rigmarole,” Betts says in the video while seated behind his desk at the Carnahan Courthouse. “The Lord sent me here to turn this department around and I’m doing the best I can and I think I’ve done a good job. I’ve got about eight months and I’m going to qualify for my fourth pension.”

He goes on, “Right now I can walk up out of here and live happily ever after and forget about all this…and live like a king.”

The sheriff then says his wife has been in Atlanta looking at houses and that the other deputy in the room, Donald Hawkins, is someone Betts has been training “to turn it all over to him.”

Asked about the video, Betts tells the RFT, “My future plans are to win reelection on August 6th by a wide margin and to continue my mission as the top elected law enforcement official to make St. Louis safer and stronger. Serving the people of St. Louis with integrity, honor and professional law enforcement qualifications is a sacred responsibility, and I intend to complete that mission.”

The video of Betts was taken by Barbara Chavers, who retired from the sheriff’s office in 2016 after 24 years of service. Chavers now works security at Schnucks at Grand and Gravois. Betts’ brother Howard works security there, too.

Chavers tells the RFT that she was summoned to Betts’ office last week after Betts’ brother made the sheriff aware that she was supporting Montgomery. It was no secret: Chavers had filmed a Facebook live video in which she said she was supporting Betts’ opponent Alfred Montgomery in the election this fall. “Make the judges safe,” she says in the video, standing in front of a large Montgomery sign on Gravois Avenue. “They need a sheriff who is going to make their courtrooms safe.”

In his office, even as Chavers made clear she was filming him, Betts told Chavers he was “flabbergasted” and “stunned” she was supporting Montgomery.

“I don’t know what I did that would make you go against the preacher man,” he says, referring to himself. He then refers to Montgomery as “ungodly.”

Betts goes on to say that not long ago, he was walking in his neighborhood on St. Louis Avenue near 20th Street when suddenly Montgomery pulled up in his car and, according to Betts, shouted, “You motherfucker, you this, you that. You’re taking my signs down.”

Montgomery tells the RFT that he’s never interacted with Betts outside of candidate forums and neighborhood meetings.

“I don’t think anyone with good sense would do something like that to a sitting sheriff,” Montgomery says.

Montgomery has had campaign signs missing and on at least two occasions has obtained video of people tearing them down. (Chavers notes that the sign that she filmed her original Facebook video in front of is itself now missing.)

One man who lives near Columbus Square says that he recently put out two Montgomery signs, which later went missing. “If they keep taking them, I’ll keep putting them up,” he said.

Betts says he has nothing to do with the missing signs. In the video Chavers filmed in Betts’ office, Betts says that his campaign isn’t in a spot where it needs to resort to tearing down opponents’ signs.

“If you sit here long enough, a man is getting ready to come across the street from City Hall bringing me $500, today,” Betts says. “I’m getting that kind of support. I don’t need to tear down signs.”

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St. Louis to Develop First Citywide Transportation Plan in Decades

Published

1 year ago

May 21, 2024

Natural Bridge

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The City of St. Louis is working to develop its first citywide mobility plan in decades, Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office announced Tuesday. This plan seeks to make it easier for everyone — drivers, pedestrians, bikers and public transit users — to safely commute within the city.

The plan will bring together other city projects like the Brickline Greenway, Future64, the MetroLink Green Line, and more, “while establishing new priorities for a safer, more efficient and better-maintained transportation network across the City,” according to the release.

The key elements in the plan will be public engagement, the development of a safety action plan, future infrastructure priorities and transportation network mapping, according to Jones’ office.

The overarching goals are to create a vision for citywide mobility, plan a mixture of short and long-term mobility projects and to develop improved communication tools with the public to receive transportation updates. In recent years, both people who use public transit and cyclists have been outspoken about the difficulties — and dangers — of navigating St. Louis streets, citing both cuts to public transit and traffic violence.

To garner public input and participation for the plan, Jones’ office said there will be community meetings, focus groups and a survey for residents to share their concerns. The city will also be establishing a Community Advisory Committee. Those interested in learning more should check out at tmp-stl.com/

“Everyone deserves to feel safe when getting around St. Louis, whether they’re driving, biking, walking or taking public transit,” Jones said in a news release. “Creating a comprehensive transportation and mobility plan allows us to make intentional and strategic investments so that moving around St. Louis for jobs, education, and entertainment becomes easier, safer and more enjoyable.”

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