Singularism Blog:
Advocating for SB200: A Journey of Passion, Persistence, and Purpose
From the moment I was invited to contribute to the drafting and editing of SB200, I felt both honored and deeply committed. It was a huge milestone to have my voice heard and my insights valued in shaping a bill that could change lives. The sponsors of the bill allowed me to attend several meetings with lawmakers and stakeholders, where I advocated passionately for the inclusion of religious protections.
When I first received the email inviting me to help write and edit portions of SB200, I was overwhelmed with excitement. It felt like a significant milestone to have the bill’s sponsors listening to my voice and giving me the opportunity to contribute directly to its creation. I was invited to participate in several meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders, where I advocated strongly for the inclusion of religious protections for psilocybin use.
I was repeatedly told—by my own team and the lobbyists involved—that the bill wouldn’t gain support if it included religious freedom provisions. But I couldn’t accept that. While I was eager to support the bill and bring the thousands of petitioners who had signed my petition along with me, I made it clear that I couldn’t do so in good conscience without at least some acknowledgment of religious use. Many of those petitioners supported this effort specifically because of its spiritual significance. For them, psilocybin is more than a clinical tool—it’s a sacrament. Many religious communities and organizations, both in Utah and beyond, already have legal protections to use entheogens in their sacred ceremonies. Why shouldn’t this bill reflect those same principles?
In Utah, nearly every significant piece of legislation includes language protecting religious freedoms and exemptions. I asked, “Why should this one be any different?” While the sponsors respected my position, it became clear that including those protections would be a significant challenge. I am fully aware that the freedom to use psilocybin for religious purposes is already protected under both the U.S. and Utah Constitutions, as well as through exemptions granted to many Churches and other religious organizations. Exemptions are even granted in the While these protections safeguard my own practices, I felt it was essential to include explicit language in SB200 to provide clarity for the general population and reassurance for my loyal petitioners. For them, having this acknowledgment in the legislation would validate the legitimacy of their spiritual practices and provide a clear path forward for their faith-based use of psilocybin.
Advocating for SB200 and pushing for the inclusion of religious exemptions was a defining moment in my journey, but it wasn’t my only contribution to the growing movement for psilocybin therapy. Over the past year, I’ve worked alongside an incredible team to raise awareness, build support, and educate the public and policymakers about the transformative potential of psilocybin. From hosting community events to engaging in critical conversations with stakeholders, every effort has been meaningful. Yet ensuring the bill acknowledged the sacred, spiritual use of psilocybin is the contribution I am most proud of because it aligns deeply with my belief that healing is not only clinical but also profoundly personal and spiritual.
I quickly learned that advocating for SB200 is not for the faint of heart. The process revealed a sobering truth: this fight was not just about public health or safety—it was also about power and profit. Big Pharma and large medical institutions loudly opposed the bill, arguing that legalizing psilocybin would disrupt their interests. Seeing how much influence these entities wield was both infuriating and enlightening. It made me realize that advocacy in this space is as much about challenging entrenched systems as it is about promoting healing and freedom.
One moment during this journey stands out vividly. I was in a large meeting room in the Utah Senate building, surrounded by lawyers, lobbyists, and lawmakers. The layers of bureaucracy and red tape surrounding the bill had grown increasingly frustrating. I could see the way it was being shaped—into something that might legalize psilocybin but would also make it prohibitively expensive and inaccessible to those who needed it most.
In that moment, I decided to address the room with a question that cut straight to the heart of the matter. I asked them to set aside politics, privacy, and pretense and simply be honest:
"Have any of you personally ever partaken of psilocybin? Has anyone here ever had the mystical experience?
The bustling room instantly feel silent and everyone looked at one another awkwardly. Silence filled the room. Not a single hand went up.
That silence spoke volumes. It revealed the disconnect between the noble intentions of the bill’s drafters and their lack of lived experience with psilocybin’s profound potential. Without firsthand understanding, they couldn’t fully grasp the transformative power of this medicine—or the critical nuances required to legalize it in a way that was safe, compassionate, and accessible.
I left that meeting both disheartened, but even more determined. It became clear to me that meaningful change requires more than well-intentioned policy; it demands advocates and leaders who truly understand what they are fighting for—not just in theory, but in practice.
If only I could, I would take every person in that room—every lawyer, lobbyist, and lawmaker—on a retreat. I would invite them (certainly not force them though) through intentional, safe rounds of psilocybin, allowing them to experience firsthand the healing, connection, and transformation that so many of us know to be possible. I believe such an experience would equip them to advocate not only for legalization but for policies rooted in authenticity, empathy, and wisdom. Then I would ask them to rewrite that bill.
This journey has humbled me. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but my work is driven by a deep desire to alleviate suffering and to bridge the gap between policy and lived experience. To everyone who has supported this mission—those who have signed petitions, shared their stories, or stood alongside me in this advocacy—I am profoundly grateful.
The fight is far from over, but we are moving in the right direction. Together, we can create a future where psilocybin therapy is not only legal but accessible and guided by the wisdom of those who truly understand its sacred potential. Let’s keep growing, learning, and advocating—one step at a time.
In the end, I supported SB200 because it was a step in the right direction. However, I also recognized its shortcomings. The bill was too much of a carbon copy of Utah’s medical marijuana legislation, and psilocybin deserves its own unique framework. It’s not recreational, and it’s not solely clinical—it has profound spiritual significance that must be acknowledged and protected.
I’m actually relieved that SB200 didn’t pass this session. It wasn’t the right time, and the bill itself needed more thought and refinement. Psilocybin therapy is too important to be rushed or poorly implemented.
Despite its challenges, this journey has been profoundly humbling. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I approach this work with sincerity and a genuine desire to alleviate suffering. The opportunity to contribute to SB200, to advocate for religious protections, and to push for thoughtful, compassionate policies has been an honor.
I am deeply grateful to Senator Escamilla for inviting me to participate and for her willingness to listen, even when we didn’t agree. I’m thankful for the incredible team of advocates and supporters who stood by me throughout this process. Most of all, I am grateful for the voyagers—those who have experienced psilocybin’s potential and whose stories inspire me every day.
While SB200 didn’t pass this session, I believe that was for the best. It needed more thought, more refinement, and a foundation unique to psilocybin rather than mirroring previous legislation. This isn’t the end of the journey—it’s just the beginning.
I believe God, the universe, and my own opportunities to commune with the divine have led me here. Together, we are building something extraordinary—a movement rooted in healing, freedom, and hope.
Let’s keep growing, learning, and advocating—one step at a time.
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