Virginia Governor Signs Law to Legalize Psilocybin After Federal Approval

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has enacted two new bills that will automatically legalize certain forms of psilocybin if the substance gains approval from federal authorities. The legislation, signed on Monday, establishes a pathway for the state’s Board of Pharmacy to reschedule psilocybin following any U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization of formulations designed for supervised medical use. This move positions Virginia to quickly align with federal changes regarding psychedelic therapies

The bills—HB 1347, sponsored by Del. Laura Jane Cohen, and SB 379, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko—require the Board of Pharmacy to act at its next quarterly meeting after a 30-day period following the publication of a final federal rule approving psilocybin. According to the legislation, the board must reschedule the substance in line with federal scheduling changes, ensuring that Virginia remains in step with national drug policy developments

Federal momentum appears to be building for psychedelic therapies, with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently stating that the administration is eager to create access to treatments like psilocybin and MDMA for conditions such as PTSD and depression. “Everybody in my agency is very anxious to get a rule out there that will allow these kind of studies and will allow access under therapeutic settings, particularly [for] the military soldiers who have suffered these injuries to get access to these products,” Kennedy said, highlighting bipartisan interest in speeding up regulatory pathways for psychedelics

Governor Spanberger’s approval of the psilocybin reform comes alongside a busy legislative session that includes several cannabis-related bills, such as proposals to legalize recreational cannabis sales and provide resentencing relief. In anticipation of the potential launch of adult-use marijuana sales, Virginia’s government jobs portal has already been updated with a range of openings for cannabis regulatory positions, signaling the state’s readiness to expand its approach to drug policy

From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, Virginia’s legislative move reflects growing state-level willingness to embrace emerging therapies as federal attitudes evolve. The state’s proactive alignment with anticipated federal changes could accelerate patient access to psychedelic treatments and influence other states to follow suit. This development is worth watching as the national conversation on drug policy reform continues to gain momentum