Psychedelic Legislation in California
Psychedelic therapy is not yet legal in California, but there is active legislation that could change that — nothing is in effect yet.
Psychedelic therapy is not yet legal in California, but there is active legislation working its way through the state legislature.
This page covers the current legal status of psychedelics in California, pending bills that could change that status, and how California compares to the national landscape. The psychedelic policy space is moving fast — here's where California stands.
Getting treatment in California
Whether psychedelic therapy is available here — and where to find it.
Legal Status by Substance
No state-level legalization.
SB-58 vetoed by Gov. Newsom Sept 2023. SB 751 introduced 2025 for veteran and first responder psilocybin pilot program. Multiple local decriminalization efforts.
Where to access therapy
Supervised psychedelic therapy isn’t available to the public in California yet. It is operating today in Oregon and Colorado, and New Mexico’s medical program is launching.
Decriminalized Jurisdictions
Decriminalized means reduced penalties for possession — not legal therapy.
For providers: getting licensed & preparing for legalization
California keeps coming close and stalling. SB 58 to decriminalize some psychedelics was vetoed in 2023, and later measures haven’t created a legal therapy program — despite California being one of the largest potential markets.
California has seen repeated legislative attempts without a durable program yet, despite clear demand. That makes preparation a longer game here — the goal is to be ready and credentialed so you can move quickly whenever the policy window reopens.
What to do now
- California's path has repeatedly stalled at the governor's desk — track new bills, but build credentials that don't depend on California's timeline.
- The most concrete step available today, in any state, is ketamine-assisted psychotherapy — the one legal, broadly available psychedelic-adjacent modality clinicians can train in and practice right now. It builds the exact skills (set and setting, preparation, dosing-session support, integration) that psilocybin and MDMA programs will require.
In August 2026, SAMHSA — the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — published a report urging states to begin planning for the legal, operational, and Medicaid implications of potential FDA-approved psychedelic therapies, including credentialing, safety protocols, and consent standards. Across recent federal activity, the supply of trained clinicians is consistently named as the main bottleneck to access — which is exactly what preparing early addresses.
Source: SAMHSA (2026) — Current Research, Regulatory, and Policy Considerations: Psychedelics Medicine (PEP26-01-004)Jobs in California
Stanford University · Stanford, CA
UCSF Translational Psychedelic Research · San Francisco, CA
Frequently asked questions
Is psilocybin therapy legal in California?
Psychedelic therapy is not yet legal in California, but there is active legislation that could change that — nothing is in effect yet.
When will psychedelic therapy be legal in California?
There is no confirmed timeline. California does not currently have a program on a path to launch. Oregon and Colorado have operating programs today, and several other states are further along.
Can I prepare to become a psychedelic therapist in California before it's legal?
Yes. You can begin training in psychedelic-assisted therapy now, build transferable clinical skills, and follow California's policy process so you're ready when a program opens. The provider section on this page outlines concrete steps.