New Jersey Advances Psilocybin Pilot Program Into Law
We’re excited to share a major milestone from New Jersey.
Last week, the New Jersey Legislature passed the Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Therapy Pilot Program, authorizing $6 million to fund three psilocybin-assisted therapy pilot programs across the state. On January 20, 2026, his final day in office, outgoing Governor Phil Murphy signed the bill into law—marking a significant step forward in state-level exploration of psychedelic-assisted care.
With the legislation now in place, New Jersey is positioned to begin generating real-world evidence to help shape how the state approaches psychedelic-assisted therapy in the future. The law establishes a State Advisory Board, which will oversee the pilots and develop recommendations for how New Jersey may proceed beyond the pilot phase. While the long-term regulatory pathway has not yet been determined, the Advisory Board’s work will help inform whether the state pursues a state-regulated model, a framework responsive to future federal decisions (including potential FDA approval), or another evidence-informed public health approach.
PMHA Alliance in New Jersey
New Jersey has been a core part of the PMHA Alliance’s state strategy since its inception. With the bill now signed into law, we can formally advance work that has already been underway.
We have strong partnerships in place with Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers and Cooper University Health Care, and we are preparing to:
Launch a community engagement and pilot co-design process as early as early spiring 2026
Partner with Camden Coalition and Cooper University Health Care to apply as one of the state-funded pilot sites
Advance a publicly fundable implementation model grounded in community-informed design
Turning Policy Into Pilots
Now that the legislation has become law, two primary areas of work will help translate policy into meaningful pilot programs:
Community engagement and co-design: the on-the-ground work that centers community needs, lived experience, and sustainable design in shaping pilot programs.
Strategic support for pilot development: offering guidance and technical support to partners as they prepare proposals for the state’s forthcoming Request for Proposals (RFP), ensuring pilot programs are competitive, community-centered, and built for real-world impact.
Building Momentum Together
This milestone reflects years of coordinated advocacy, informative partnerships, and collaboration across the field. We are grateful to organizations like Reason for Hope, Partnership for Innovative Action (as a model of collaborative ecosystem building), and New Approach PAC for their leadership and contributions to advancing psychedelic access and policy reform.
As we move New Jersey from legislative signature into implementation—while continuing to deepen work in New Mexico and activate a third state strategy—we’re grateful to the many partners and supporters who make this work possible. This progress shows what is possible when long-term vision is matched with sustained collaboration and commitment.
We’ll continue to share updates as New Jersey moves from policy into community-led design and implementation
Read More
Here are a few articles and an official resource if you’d like to dive deeper into this development:
New Jersey Legislature Passes Bill To Create Psilocybin Therapy Pilot Program, Sending It To Governor — Marijuana Moment Read Article: NJ Legislature Passes Psilocybin Pilot Bill
Legal Medical Psilocybin Study Bill Passes NJ Legislature — Beard Bros Pharms Read Article: NJ Passes Medical Psilocybin Study Bill
Full text of the legislation:
New Jersey Psilocybin Behavioral Health Access and Therapy Pilot Program — Official Bill Text