New York could allow psychedelic mushroom compound for health care

And Hochul is accusing Trump of 'defunding the police' in New York.

Good afternoon — It’s Tuesday and International Podcast Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• The state Assembly held a hearing Tuesday on psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, as they consider its legalization.

• The Hochul administration was “gobsmacked” to find out that another $100 million in federal counterterrorism funding was being cut.

• The Democratic Governors Association has formed a new independent expenditure committee to support Hochul’s reelection bid.

• Hochul has signed the 15 bills that were on her desk, including one to clarify opioid settlement funds.

• A new bill seeks to ban the sale of food and drinks that contain kratom.

Names in today’s CapCon: Amy Paulin, Patrick Burke, Avery Stempel, Matt Slater, Kevin Sabet, Kathy Hochul, Jackie Bray, Donald J. Trump, Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, Michaelle Solages, Jonathan Jacobson

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I don’t know what kind of mushrooms these are (Yarygin/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

🍄 New York lawmakers are seriously considering legalizing psilocybin

Some of you reading this have undoubtedly dabbled in psychedelic mushrooms. I won’t tell.

But soon, you may not have to fear being arrested for using the active ingredient in those mushrooms if a medical professional decides they could help you treat a medical or mental health condition.

The state Assembly on Tuesday conducted the first-ever hearing of the state Legislature on the potential medicinal use of psilocybin, a compound found in certain mushrooms. It was hosted by the Assembly Health Committee.

“The committee is very interested in hearing testimony to see what we can do about perhaps making it legal and appropriate for medical providers to dispense a product that they, frankly, have been acknowledging is effective for their patients but have been unable in New York to legally prescribe it,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who chairs the committee.

It’s reminiscent of the early conversations had in the Legislature around the potential medical benefits of cannabis, which can now be prescribed in New York but is also sold recreationally.

That’s not the direction that lawmakers are looking to take with psilocybin and, for some, discussions around the drug are in their early stages. But for Assemblyman Patrick Burke, the hearing has been a long time coming.