A field guide to US psychedelic law
The law is a patchwork.
This is the map.
143 plain-English articles on what is actually legal — Oregon and Colorado programs, facilitator licensing, clinician risk, running a service center, research, religious use, and what to do when something goes wrong. Written to be read before you call a lawyer, not instead of one.
Reviewed August 2026 · each article below lists its own last-reviewed date
Where do you fit?
The library is organized by who you are. Pick the closest.
01 I took part in a session Participants & clients → 02 Something went wrong Harm, disputes & suing → 03 I'm a facilitator Licensing, scope & liability → 04 I'm a clinician Doctors, nurses & therapists → 05 I run (or want to run) a business Service centers & operations → 06 I'm a researcher or investor Studies, trials & biotech → 07 I'm exploring spiritual use Churches, ceremony & religion →
The full index
Every article, in order. Type to filter.
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Foundations
- 001 Psychedelic Law 101: What Is Actually Legal in the US?
- 002 What "Legal," "Decriminalized," "Regulated," and "Approved" Actually Mean
- 003 Federal Law vs. State Law: Why Both Matter for Psychedelics
- 004 What Is the Controlled Substances Act and How Does It Affect Psychedelics?
- 005 What Is a DEA Schedule I Substance and What Does That Mean Practically?
- 006 Psilocybin, MDMA, Ketamine, and Cannabis: Why the Law Treats Them Differently
- 007 Ibogaine and Mescaline: Where Do They Stand Legally?
- 008 Controlled Substance Analogs and Novel Psychedelics: Where Does the Law Draw the Line?
- 009 MDMA-Assisted Therapy and What Happens Now That FDA Rejected It
- 010 What FDA Approval Does — and Does Not — Mean for Psychedelic Treatments
- 011 Clinical Trials vs. Legal Access Programs: What's the Difference?
- 012 What Is the Right to Try Act and Does It Apply to Psychedelics?
- 013 What Is the Legal Difference Between Treatment, Facilitation, Education, and Integration?
- 014 Harm Reduction and Good Samaritan Laws: What Happens If You Call 911 During a Psychedelic Experience?
- 015 What City-Level Decriminalization Actually Means
- 016 Psilocybin Mushroom Spores: Where Is the Legal Line?
- 017 Psychedelic Legal Status by State: A Plain-English Overview
- 018 Common Myths in Psychedelic Law
- 019 How Psychedelic Legal Issues Usually Break Down: Personal Use, Practice, Business, Research, and Religion
- 020 Hemp, CBD, and the Psychedelic Adjacency: Where Do They Intersect Legally?
For Participants & Clients
- 021 Oregon Psilocybin Services Explained for Clients
- 022 Colorado Natural Medicine Explained for Participants
- 023 Service Centers and Facilitator Licenses: How the Regulated Model Works
- 024 Do I Need a Prescription for Psychedelic Treatment or Services?
- 025 What Is a Facilitator, and Are They My Therapist?
- 026 What Is Integration and Is It Regulated?
- 027 What Does the Participant Intake and Session Process Actually Look Like?
- 028 How Do I Find a Licensed Psychedelic Facilitator or Service Center?
- 029 What Happens If a State Psychedelic Program Is Paused, Defunded, or Legally Challenged?
- 030 Can I Legally Use Psilocybin for Depression, Trauma, or End-of-Life Distress?
- 031 Microdosing: Is It Legal and What Do People Get Wrong About It?
- 032 Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in Hospice and End-of-Life Care: What Is Legally Available?
- 033 What to Do Before a Psychedelic Session: A Legal and Practical Preparation Guide
- 034 Can I Travel with Psychedelics Between States or Countries?
- 035 International Psychedelic Destinations: What Travelers Need to Know
- 036 What Rights Should I Expect Before a Psychedelic Session?
- 037 What Disclosures and Consent Forms Should I Receive Before a Session?
- 038 Can I Use Insurance for Psychedelic Services or Treatment?
- 039 Do I Need a Lawyer for My Psychedelic Question?
- 040 What Families and Loved Ones Should Know About Psychedelic Access and Risk
- 041 Psychedelics and Existing Psychiatric Care: What Participants Should Know
- 042 Cost, Access, and Legal Alternatives When State Program Services Are Out of Reach
- 043 What to Do If a Psychedelic Session Caused Harm
- 044 What to Save and Document After a Bad Psychedelic Experience
Harm & Disputes
- 045 Can I Sue a Facilitator, Retreat, Church, or Wellness Provider?
- 046 What to Do If a Facilitator Crossed Ethical or Sexual Boundaries
- 047 What to Do If You Were Misled by a Psychedelic Provider or Program
- 048 How to Prepare for a Complaint, Investigation, or Legal Dispute
- 049 Statute of Limitations for Psychedelic Harm Claims: How Long Do You Have to Act?
- 050 What if the facilitator or operator has no insurance or assets?
For Facilitators
- 051 What does it mean to be a licensed psilocybin facilitator in Oregon?
- 052 What does it mean to be a licensed natural medicine facilitator in Colorado?
- 053 Can I facilitate psilocybin sessions if I am also a licensed therapist, nurse, or doctor?
- 054 What a facilitator can and cannot do during a session
- 055 Scope of practice: what are facilitators legally prohibited from doing?
- 056 Informed consent obligations for facilitators
- 057 Touch, boundaries, and the law: what facilitators need to know
- 058 What happens when a client has a medical emergency during a session?
- 059 Mandatory reporting obligations for licensed psilocybin facilitators
- 060 Can a facilitator refuse to serve a client?
- 061 Recordkeeping requirements for Oregon and Colorado facilitators
- 062 What facilitators need to know about client confidentiality and data privacy
- 063 Professional liability and insurance for psychedelic facilitators
- 064 What to do if a client files a complaint against you
For Healthcare Professionals
- 065 What healthcare professionals should consider before entering the psychedelic space
- 066 Can physicians discuss or recommend psilocybin services to patients?
- 067 Dual licensure: what HB 2387 changed for Oregon clinician-facilitators
- 068 Psychedelic-assisted therapy and the standard of care
- 069 Can I integrate ketamine into my clinical practice?
- 070 What clinicians need to know about screening patients for psychedelic services
- 071 Prescribing, referring, and recommending: where the legal lines are for clinicians
- 072 Malpractice exposure for clinicians involved in psychedelic services
- 073 What to tell patients who ask about psychedelic treatment options
- 074 HIPAA, state privacy law, and psychedelic client records
- 075 Psychedelics and Professional Licenses: What Licensed Professionals Need to Know
- 076 What healthcare professionals risk when participating in or recommending psychedelics
Professional & Career Risk
- 077 What attorneys, judges, and law enforcement risk with psychedelic participation
- 078 What teachers, school employees, and childcare workers should know
- 079 Could a security clearance, federal job, or professional license be affected by psychedelic use?
- 080 Drug testing and psychedelics: what employers can and cannot do
- 081 Can I be fired for participating in a legal psilocybin program?
- 082 What to do if your licensing board investigates you for psychedelic work
- 083 Non-compete, confidentiality, and employment agreements in the psychedelic industry
Running a Business
- 084 I want to start a psychedelic business: what kind of lawyer do I need first?
- 085 How to structure a psilocybin service center or healing center entity
- 086 Licensing requirements for Oregon psilocybin service center operators
- 087 Licensing requirements for Colorado natural medicine healing centers
- 088 Social equity plans and licensing obligations in Oregon and Colorado
- 089 Zoning, local opt-outs, and site selection for service centers
- 090 Banking, payments, and financial services for psychedelic businesses
- 091 Taxes and the psychedelic business: what operators need to know
- 092 Insurance for psychedelic businesses: what is available and what is not
- 093 Employment law basics for psychedelic service center operators
- 094 Contracts and agreements every service center operator needs
- 095 What to do if your service center faces a regulatory investigation
- 096 Investor agreements and capitalization for psychedelic businesses
- 097 Closing or transferring a licensed psychedelic business
Marketing & Advertising
- 098 What psychedelic businesses can and cannot say in marketing
- 099 Why calling it therapy is a legal problem in Oregon
- 100 Health claims, testimonials, and FTC rules for psychedelic services
- 101 Social media, advertising platforms, and psychedelic content
- 102 What facilitators and service centers can say about outcomes
- 103 Press, media, and public communications for psychedelic businesses
- 104 Pricing transparency and fee disclosure requirements
- 105 Endorsements, referrals, and kickbacks in the psychedelic space
- 106 Intellectual property basics for psychedelic brands and content creators
Documents & Contracts
- 107 What legal documents every psychedelic business needs
- 108 Drafting client agreements for psilocybin service centers
- 109 Facilitator agreements: employment vs. independent contractor
- 110 Informed consent beyond the OHA template: what additional provisions matter
- 111 Waiver and release clauses: what they cover and what they don't
- 112 Partnership and operating agreements for psychedelic businesses
- 113 Real estate and lease agreements for service centers
- 114 Vendor and supply agreements for psilocybin manufacturers and labs
- 115 Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements in the psychedelic space
- 116 What to prepare before your first meeting with a psychedelic lawyer (operators)
- 117 Working with a psychedelic lawyer: a guide for operators and facilitators (operators)
Churches & Ceremony
- 118 Does calling it a church make psychedelic use legal?
- 119 Religious and Spiritual Exemptions: Can You Use Psychedelics for Religious Purposes Legally?
- 120 What the DEA religious exemption process actually involves
- 121 How courts have ruled on psychedelic religious freedom claims
- 122 Operating a psychedelic church: what legal structure actually protects you
- 123 What spiritual and ceremonial facilitators need to know about liability
- 124 Indigenous ceremony, cultural rights, and the law
After an Incident
- 125 What to do if a client is harmed at your service center
- 126 Incident response for psychedelic operators: the first 72 hours
- 127 Mandatory reporting obligations after a session incident
- 128 Cooperating with an OPS investigation as a licensee
- 129 Crisis communications and public statements after an incident
- 130 What operators need to know about litigation holds and evidence preservation
Researchers & Biotech
- 131 What researchers and institutions need to know before running a psychedelic study
- 132 IND applications and FDA oversight of psychedelic clinical trials
- 133 IRB review and human subjects protection in psychedelic research
- 134 DEA Schedule I researcher registration: what it involves and how to get it
- 135 Intellectual property strategy for psychedelic biotech companies
- 136 What investors and companies should know before entering the psychedelic biotech space
- 137 Why 'promising research' is not the same as lawful commercial availability
- 138 Drug development timelines and what FDA approval actually requires