Welcome!
This post describes Frederick Research’s psychedelic legalization public policy strategy and how this blog series will keep readers updated on advocacy opportunities.
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What is Frederick Research?
Frederick Research is a mental health consulting firm specializing in public affairs and psychedelics. It’s run by me, Greg Frederick Ferenstein.
What is this blog series?
This blog series will keep readers up-to-date on the latest public policy reforms, our in-depth investigations, and opportunities to get involved in advocacy efforts.
How are you different?
Our work is focused on protecting psychedelics consumers and their service providers, from manufacturers to healers.
There are many wonderful groups focused on other aspects of psychedelics, such as conducting FDA-approved trials and deprioritizing law enforcement in cities.
But, we are focused on protecting psychedelic consumers who would like a legal market for sales and facilitated experiences.
How will revenue be spent on policy reform?
Changing laws costs (a lot) of money and coordination between many different stakeholders, from registered lobbyists to nonprofit advocacy groups. There are three necessary components of a campaign:
Professional lobbyists, who set up meetings with elected officials, and ensure that they follow through on promises ($100-200k/year)
Stakeholder advocacy groups who represent the likes of veterans or first responders that testify in legislative hearings ($10-50k per group, per year).
Advertising campaigns that can shift public opinion in key legislative districts (+1M per state).
The minimum entry point of a campaign is roughly $100k. Passing a recent ballot initiative in Colorado that legalized personal possession of some psychedelics cost around $8 million.
The median cost for each bill is roughly $5 million.
How can I keep track of how Frederick Research spends the money?
We are committed to full transparency. Every dime of the campaign will be accounted for in a spreadsheet available to subscribers.
What are your current legal forms?
To date, all of the work has been at the think tank level, where in-depth research has informed a few bills at the state and federal level.
Senators Cory Booker and Rand Paul have introduced a bill that would automatically reschedule substances that had received “breakthrough“ status by The Food and Drug Administration. This could reduce the penalties related to psilocybin and MDMA.
In New York, Assemblymember Pat Burke has introduced a bill for medically facilitated psilocybin therapy.
In Texas, a decriminalization bill that would reduce penalties for psychedelic possession will hopefully be introduced soon.
What have you done so far?
Good question!
We published in leading think tanks, which is the first part of the bill drafting process. Lawmakers typically will not introduce a bill unless it is first vetted by respected policy experts.
Representative Alex Dominguez, who successfully passed one of the nation's first psychedelic bills, endorsed our policy frameworks for Texas.
We have advised bills about the state and federal level.
What is next?
Write a series of bills, initially in Texas and New York, that would directly protect consumers, including retroactive immunity for past offenses, legalization of microdosing, legalization of regulated retail sales, and reducing federal penalties.
Form stakeholder organizations, including lobbyists and advocacy groups for each of the bills
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Please comment and contact us on where and how you like the funds spent.
