When it comes to the evolving landscape of cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics law, few voices are as active as our Chair, Joshua S. Bauchner, at Mandelbaum Barrett PC. Recently highlighted in a New York Law Journal publication, Bauchner discussed the growing legal opportunities for attorneys should New York move forward with medicinal psilocybin legalization.
A New Frontier for Psychedelic Law
With New York considering the legalization of medicinal psilocybin, questions arise not only about public health and regulation but also about the legal infrastructure required to support such a system. Bauchner notes that lawyers will play a crucial role in helping businesses, patients, and regulators navigate the uncharted territory.
Regulatory and Compliance Challenges Ahead
As with cannabis, the legalization of psilocybin will require a comprehensive framework of rules and oversight. Attorneys will likely be called upon to guide clients through licensing requirements, patient access protocols, corporate structuring for new psilocybin enterprises, and ongoing compliance with both federal and state law. This is not simply a matter of legalizing a substance, it is about constructing an entire system of governance to ensure safety, accountability, and sustainability.
Business and Transactional Opportunities
As New York weighs the legalization of medicinal psilocybin, Joshua S. Bauchner emphasizes that the shift would “keep lawyers busy for quite some time, across many disciplines.” Businesses—from start-ups to established healthcare providers—would need assistance navigating contracts, financing, real estate, intellectual property, and other transactional issues tied to psilocybin treatment centers. With so many moving parts, lawyers will be integral to shaping the responsible and sustainable growth of the industry.
Protecting Patients and Public Interest
Bauchner, who has filed a pro bono amicus brief supporting the administration of psilocybin to a terminally ill patient, has long advocated for its therapeutic potential, particularly for veterans and first responders coping with stress. He explained that psilocybin is “as close to being a miracle drug as you can get” and stressed the need for lawmakers to “create all kinds of mechanisms for distribution and access.” This underscores the role attorneys will play not only in structuring the business side of the industry but also in ensuring patients receive access to treatment safely, ethically, and within a clear regulatory framework.
These insights make clear that psilocybin legalization is about more than policy—it’s about building a system that serves patients, protects the public, and creates a framework for responsible industry growth.
For more information about the legal landscape surrounding psilocybin, you can reach Joshua S. Bauchner at jbauchner@mblawfirm.com or 646-369-0250.