Breaking news and a win for psychedelic advocates as the DEA has reversed its decision to schedule 5 psychedelic substances.
Back in January, we reported that the DEA was moving to criminalize new psychedelics (War on Drugs Update: DEA To Expand List of Banned Psychedelics).
Despite their medical potential, the DEA announced it was adding 5 drugs to Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act, the most restrictive legal class of drugs that is reserved for substances with a high potential for abuse and no currently accepted medical use. The five compounds, all tryptamines, are:
- 4-Hydroxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (4-OH-DiPT),
- 5-Methoxy-alphamethyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT),
- N-Isopropyl-5-Methoxy-N-Methyltryptamine (5-MeO-MiPT),
- N,N-Diethyl-5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeO-DET), and
- N,N-Diisopropyltryptamine (DiPT).
But there was considerable public pushback, and advocates and researchers took the opportunity to plead their cases at the DEA’s public hearing. And it seems to have worked as the DEA has withdrawn its proposed rule.
Here are comments and info from Graham Pechenik, patent lawyer who served as co-counsel on this case.
This is great news not only for this specific case, but for the future of psychedelic reform, as the DEA seems to be listening to the experts…
5 psychedelic tryptamines, kept off schedule I?
DEA scheduling proceedings—terminated:
“DEA is withdrawing the proposed rule…canceling the public hearing & terminating the pending hearing proceedings”
Unprecedented outcome—a result of extraordinary lawyering by Matt Zorn
1/2 https://t.co/ZfBq8OJurB pic.twitter.com/OJHjhcDNil
— Graham Pechenik (@calyxlaw) July 22, 2022
Congratulations to challengers @TactogenInc & @MindstateDesign
With huge thanks also to expert statements from @AndrewChadeayne & @ProfDavidNutt
I’m grateful to serve as co-counsel w Matt, as science & common sense carry the day
Government notice: https://t.co/y79zLcaby0
2/2
— Graham Pechenik (@calyxlaw) July 22, 2022
