Oregon Psilocybin Services - Summer Newsletter

 

Summer is in full swing!

We are less than 6 months away from launching the nation’s first psilocybin services regulatory framework.

Welcome to the Oregon Psilocybin Services Section’s Quarterly Newsletter. 

 

JOIN US AT LISTENING SESSIONS THIS WEEK

You are invited to a series of three virtual public listening sessions. These sessions are an opportunity for you to share your comments, ideas, questions and concerns.

The listening sessions will each be two hours in length and focus on three topic areas: (1) Licensed premises, (2) Facilitator conduct, and (3) Client and product safety. If your comments relate to these topic areas, please try to make the corresponding date, however we welcome your comments at any of the sessions that work best for you. 

A short overview of the rulemaking process will be presented at the beginning of each session. The remainder of time will be reserved for open public comment. As a reminder, we will also conduct separate public hearings to receive comments on proposed rules later in the year.

Spanish interpretation, American Sign Language interpretation, and CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) captioning services will be provided. The listening sessions will be recorded, and the audio will be posted on our webpage. We hope you will join us and feel free to share the flyers below!

Announcement: Public Listening Sessions (English)

Anuncio: Las sesiones de escucha pública (en español)

 

July Public Listening Sessions     1. Licensed premises: site, security and operational requirements    Wednesday, July 13th, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)  https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1610941643?pwd=TTRaRzY1angvS1J2U3doMWI5Mm5Jdz09 Call in: 1-669-254-5252 (US) Meeting ID: 161 094 1643 Passcode: 047589      2. Facilitator conduct: preparation (including client intake and informed consent), administration and integration sessions   Thursday, July 14, 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1607749250?pwd=TkkxRktTam5TMktSdkJZVGFsdXBuUT09 Call in: 1-669-254-5252 (US) Meeting ID: 160 774 9250 Passcode: 022676     3. Client and product safety: packaging, labeling, dosage, duration and frequency   Friday, July 15, 10:00 p.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1606007454?pwd=SlRXQmsxL3lzRXN4TTFBVElpOTZTdz09 Call in: 1-669-254-5252 (US) Meeting ID: 160 600 7454 Passcode: 667816

OHA welcomes all participants. If you have any questions about accommodations or need any assistance to participate please contact the Oregon Psilocybin Services team at 971-341-1713, 711 TTY or OHA.Psilocybin@odhsoha.oregon.gov ​at least 48 hours before the meeting. Every effort will be made to provide services to requests received at least 48 hours in advance, however submitting your request as ​early as ​possible is greatly appreciated.​ 

 

OREGON PSILOCYBIN ADVISORY BOARD (OPAB) RECOMMENDATIONS

The Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board (OPAB) is an advisory board that makes recommendations to the Oregon Health Authority Psilocybin Services Section.

Measure 109 directed OPAB to submit recommendations for rules and regulations to the Oregon Health Authority on or before June 30, 2022. 

OPAB Recommendations

 

RULES, AND MORE RULES

The first subset of rules related to psilocybin products, testing and training programs was adopted in May 2022. These rules specify requirements for psilocybin products, psilocybin testing, and curriculum requirements for programs planning to train individuals interested in applying for a psilocybin facilitator license in Oregon. You can read the rules on the OPS Administrative Rules webpage.

A second rulemaking process will occur for the remainder of the rules this coming Fall. OPS will soon begin accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on the Fall Rules Advisory Committees (RACs). Details for how to apply will be announced by the end of July – please sign up for updates to receive timely announcements.

OPS will share the first drafts of the remaining rules in advance of the RAC meetings scheduled to take place in September. The draft rules will be updated based on RAC input, and the next version of proposed rules will be made available in early November for a public comment period that will include public hearings in mid-November.

 

TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE NOW APPLYING FOR CURRICULUM APPROVAL 

The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is now accepting applications from organizations interested in training individuals to become psilocybin services facilitators. Training programs can Apply for Training Program Curriculum Approval through the new OPS – Training program, Licensing and Compliance (TLC) system.

The list of training programs with approved curriculums is now posted on the webpage: List of Training Programs with Approved Curriculum and will continue to be automatically updated as more training programs receive OHA approval.

 

HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING COMMISSION (HECC)

Psilocybin facilitator training programs may be required to be licensed by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Under state law, career schools must be licensed by the HECC (see ORS 345.010 to 345.450). A career school is defined in state law as “any private proprietary professional, technical, home study, correspondence, business or other school instruction, organization or person that offers any instruction or training for the purpose or purported purpose of instructing, training or preparing persons for any profession," ORS 345.010(3). 

OPS recommends that psilocybin training programs review licensure laws related to career schools and contact the HECC if they have questions. OPS cannot make any determinations about whether HECC licensure is required, as that is a decision that the HECC must make. That said, HECC licensure is not a prerequisite to getting curriculum approval from OPS. 

Psilocybin facilitator training programs should contact the HECC if they believe they meet the requirements in ORS 345.015 or they believe they would qualify for private career school exemption via the HECC. An exemption form should be sent to the HECC if a psilocybin facilitator training program qualifies for an exemption.

For more information about HECC licensure, please see contact information below: 

For Private Career School License – Exemption Request & Student Complaints

Matthew Altman – Phone: 503-881-2738, Matthew.ALTMAN@hecc.oregon.gov

 

 

For Private Career School License – New School Licensure

Peter Gertenrich – Phone: 503-551-8236, Peter.GERTENRICH@hecc.oregon.gov

 

For Schools Operating Without a Private Career School License – Cease and Desist Letters

Monika Peterson – Phone: 503-507-8726, Monika.PETERSON@state.or.us

 

FALL BUSINESS FORUM PLANNED FOR OCTOBER Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) is partnering with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office of Small Business Assistance to host a free Virtual Fall Business Forum in October.  The forum will take place over the course of one day and include a series of different virtual/zoom presentations offered by various agency partners. Topics will be related to starting a business to manufacture psilocybin products, open a psilocybin service center, and/or to facilitate psilocybin services. OHA will begin to accept applications for the four (4) different license types on January 2, 2023, and the Fall Business Forum will provide an opportunity to learn about challenges, resources, and opportunities for new businesses in this emerging sector. Sign up for updates to receive announcements with more details later this summer.

CHECK OUT OUR ONLINE CALENDAR

In case you haven’t already spotted our online calendar, you can go to the OPS homepage and scroll down to a monthly calendar that includes the dates of upcoming meetings and events. 

 

AND STAY TUNED!

 

 

• OPS-Summer-Newsletter-7-11-2022.pdf