What a Week for SoundMind: Reflecting on Election Day and Question 4
Happy Election Day! Today, we’re reflecting on an incredible week for SoundMind as we joined forces with thought leaders, advocates, and clinicians to champion psychedelic policy reform in Massachusetts. For those in Massachusetts—or anyone with loved ones in the state—we’re sharing one last push to vote YES on Question 4, a measure that has the potential to reshape access to natural psychedelic therapies.
Dr. Hannah speaking at the State House in Boston, Massachusetts
A Powerful Gathering in Boston
Last week, our Founder and Director, Dr. Hannah McLane, had the honor of speaking at the Massachusetts State House alongside renowned figures like Dr. Bessel van der Kolk: Author of The Body Keeps the Score and Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University, Dr. Franklin King: Center for Neuroscience of Psychedelics, Mass General Hospital and Eliza Dushku-Palandjian: Former Hollywood actress and dedicated psychedelic facilitator.
This event garnered attention from local, statewide, and national media outlets and brought together a wide array of clinicians, researchers, and advocates—including nearly 300 medical professionals endorsing Question 4. The sight of lab coats filling the room was a testament to the broad support within the medical community for this initiative.
Key Highlights from the Initiative
Question 4, formally titled An Act Relative to the Taxation and Regulation of Natural Psychedelic Substances, outlines a groundbreaking framework for psychedelic policy in Massachusetts:
Decriminalization: Personal possession of psychedelics like psilocybin, DMT, mescaline (excluding peyote), psilocin, and ibogaine.
Home Cultivation: Legal protections for home-grown psychedelics, with cultivation areas of up to 12x12 feet.
Equity & Accessibility: A focus on pathways to regulated psychedelic therapy while preventing criminalization, particularly within BIPOC and marginalized communities.
High Standards for Therapy: A two-year rulemaking process ensuring rigorous patient screening and facilitator training.
Non-Commercial Model: No commercial sales, but sharing and gifting are permitted as long as monetary exchange isn’t involved.
This balanced approach aims to create access while ensuring safety, equity, and decriminalization—a critical step in dismantling outdated War on Drugs policies.
Collaboration and Advocacy
Dr. McLane spent her time in Boston connecting with inspiring individuals such as Emily Oneschuk, the first-ever female Navy SEAL applicant and Grassroots Campaign Director for Yes on 4. Together, they were interviewed by The New York Times and shared their vision for equitable access to these therapies. Dr. McLane also spoke on WWOC Radio alongside Jamie Morey, Yes on 4 Community Engagement Coordinator and founder of Parents for Plant Medicine, emphasizing the life-changing potential of these substances for mental health treatment.
Dr. McLane’s advocacy also extended to an Op-Ed in The Berkshire Eagle, urging Massachusetts residents to take a bold step toward a compassionate, effective, and scientifically informed mental health approach by voting YES.
The Final Push
Polling data from Emerson College and the University of New Hampshire showed Question 4 with a slight lead heading into Election Day, but every vote counts. If you’re in Massachusetts, don’t miss this opportunity to vote YES today. Together, we can help advance psychedelic research and therapeutic access.
Continuing the Mission
Regardless of the outcome, SoundMind remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting psychedelic policy reform and offering transformative mental health services. We invite you to explore our offerings:
Year-Long Practitioner Training: Applications are open for our September 2025 cohort. Apply here.
Psychodynamic Techniques for Psychedelic Practitioners: A flexible 10-week course designed for psychedelic facilitators. Enroll now.
The work we’ve been part of this week is just the beginning. Let’s continue driving change and fostering hope, one step at a time. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for standing with us in this important effort.
