On Monday, February 16, members of the Modern Health Coalition attended the House Emerging Issues Committee hearing on House Bill 1717. The bill received 14 witness testimonies in support and two in opposition. Those speaking in favor represented a broad range of voices, including veterans, former law enforcement officers, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and university professors.
The hearing was deeply moving, with several testimonies resonating strongly with members and attendees in the room. Many speakers shared personal experiences that underscored the importance and urgency of this legislation.
Dena Ladd, founder of the Modern Health Coalition, and Navy Top Gun pilot veteran Trey Warren were recently featured on This Week in Missouri Politics Daily to discuss the Coalition’s ongoing work and House Bill 1717. The legislation proposes utilizing Missouri’s opioid settlement funds to support psilocybin clinical trials. During the interview, they emphasized the need for expanded treatment options for veterans and first responders beyond traditional prescriptions, while also outlining the safeguards, structure, and oversight incorporated into the proposed clinical trial framework.
New legislation introduced in Congress would require the Veterans Affairs (VA) secretary to designate the department’s medical facilities as “innovative therapies centers of excellence,” which would include increasing federal funding to study the therapeutic uses of psychedelics for veterans, according to a copy of the legislation shared with Military.com.