Oregon Psilocybin Services - Spring Newsletter
Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 04/11/2022 11:56 AM PDT
Spring has sprung!
Welcome to the first Oregon Psilocybin Services team Quarterly Newsletter! For this first newsletter, we’d like to introduce ourselves…
The Oregon Psilocybin Services Section
The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) Section includes three programs housed in the Center for Health Protection of the Oregon Health Authority - Public Health Division. As a team, OPS is working to implement the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, codified in Oregon Revised Statutes in ORS 475A: Psilocybin Regulation. We currently have 6 staff working to develop 3 programs focused on: Policy and Engagement, Licensing, and Compliance. Each program will center on health equity, including outreach to communities and working to ensure safe and equitable access to psilocybin services.
The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) Section is fee-based, which means that the cost of operations must be covered by the licensing and application fees. We will begin accepting applications for licensure on January 2, 2023. Until then, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section is in a development period, working to build the nation’s first regulatory framework for psilocybin services. This includes:
- establishing rules by the end of the year
- developing a psilocybin facilitator training program approval system
- license tracking and compliance case management system
- securing and customizing a product tracking system
- working on online payments for licensees
- GIS mapping for compliance work
- an equity and justice centered approach to background checks
- continuing to hire for our licensing and compliance teams
- setting processes and procedures for each of our programs
- supporting the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board and subcommittees
- keeping our website updated for access to important information
- building partnerships with diverse communities
- creating education and training for our regulatory community and the public
Our team would like to thank members of the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board and subcommittees, Rules Advisory Committees, partners, community members across the state, and members of the public, who have volunteered time and energy to provide comments and recommendations during this development period. We deeply appreciate the collaboration and partnership, and we are listening.
COMMUNITY INTEREST SURVEY
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Last month, OPS published the Oregon Psilocybin Section Community Interest Survey Findings Report which summarizes survey responses from over 4,420 community members. Ninety-four percent of survey respondents indicated interest in accessing services, and eighty-nine percent of those respondents live in Oregon. |
Reasons of interest for accessing psilocybin services:
PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS
Also, in case you missed it, OPS held a series of three virtual public listening sessions in December of 2021. The listening sessions were two hours in length and open to the public. A short overview of Measure 109 (M109) was presented at the beginning of each session. The remainder of time was reserved for open public comment, which was focused on a different topic each day. Spanish interpretation was provided at all three sessions. After the listening sessions, OHA staff compiled feedback across the three listening sessions and created a document that summarized questions and answers. The listening sessions were recorded and will continue to inform future program development, educational materials, and community engagement. You can access the recordings and summary document here.
OPS will be scheduling additional public listening sessions this summer. We will provide Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and will provide additional language and accessibility support upon request. We hope you will join us!
PROPOSED RULES ARE READY FOR YOUR REVIEW
OPS is required to adopt all rules by the end of this year. Community participation in the rulemaking process is vital to producing clear, effective, and equitable rules.
In February, Rules Advisory Committees (RACs) discussed draft rules related to three specific sections of the rules: Products, Testing, and Training Programs. Updated rules for these sections are now ready for public comment.
This public comment period spans between April 1st and April 22nd. Please keep in mind that this public comment period is only for a sub-section of the rules, those related to Products, Testing, and Training Programs. OPS will convene additional RACs later in the fall to establish the remainder of administrative rules. Invitations to apply to serve on future RACs will be posted here and sent out to the mailing list by the end of July.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Where can I read the proposed rules? The proposed rules related to Products, Testing, and Facilitator Training Programs are available on the 2022 April Public Comment Period webpage between April 1 and April 22, 2022.
How do I submit written comments? All written comments can be e-mailed to publichealth.rules@dhsoha.state.or.us and must be received by April 22, 2022 at 5:00pm PST.
How can I verbally share my comments? We will have two virtual public hearings scheduled at the following times:
April 18, 2022, 5:00 - 7:00 pm PDT https://https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1609448818?pwd=SXdJZzJSd1BncmhkazJhWDI3TUJkUT09
April 21, 2022, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon PDT https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1613853904?pwd=S2ZlNVBpMjBNZTBON082VG5kUzBkUT09
OPS welcomes all participants. A Spanish language interpreter and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter will provide interpretation at the hearings. CART captioning services will also be available. If you have any questions about accommodations or need any assistance to participate please email: OHA.Psilocybin@dhsoha.state.or.us
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Your comments will help OPS produce a final set of rules related to Products, Testing, and Training Programs. We expect these sections of the rules to be adopted and posted to the OPS webpage by the end of May 2022.
OPS plans to begin accepting applications for training program approval on June 1, 2022. Our partners at the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ORELAP) will also begin to set up the accreditation criteria for testing labs.
The Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB) plans to submit their full set of recommendations to OPS by June 30th, 2022.
This summer, OPS plans to hold a series of public listening sessions and will also accept applications to serve on a new round of Rules Advisory Committees (RACs) that will advise on the remainder of the rules.
STAY TUNED!
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