Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released a statement on April 18 noting that the authority had licensed the state’s first three facilitators for providing psilocybin services. The licensing follows a regulatory framework created by M109, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act. The OHA said it issued the licenses to David Naftalin, Alexander Polvi and Jeanette Small.
“We want to congratulate the first facilitators to be licensed in Oregon,” says Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) Section Manager Angie Allbee. “As your work in providing non-directive psilocybin services takes shape, we thank you for your dedication to client safety and access as we move closer to opening service centers.”
In 2020, Oregonians passed Measure 109, the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, which is now codified in Oregon law (ORS 475A). Oregon became the first state in the nation to implement a regulatory framework for the production of psilocybin products and the provision of psilocybin services. The Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) section is part of the Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division’s Center for Health Protection. OPS adopted final rules (OAR 333-333) in December 2022 and began accepting applications for four license types in January 2023, which include facilitator licenses, service center licenses, manufacturer licenses, and laboratory licenses.
The OHA stated that psilocybin administration sessions can only take place in licensed service centers statewide. These centers can employ and/or contract licensed facilitators trained to support preparation, administration, and integration sessions with clients. Service centers will provide psilocybin products produced by licensed manufacturers and tested by licensed laboratories. Currently, two manufacturers have licenses for producing psilocybin in the state. OPS anticipates issuing licenses to service center and laboratory applicants in the coming months.
The OHA also published a Psilocybin Resource Business Guide and the Oregon Psilocybin Advisory Board will be meeting again on May 5, 2023. At that time the board will review the following:
• Licensing Stats
• Letter to U.S. Attorney for Oregon
• Workday annual trainings
• Compensation