State Senator Rachel Ventura, joined by mental health advocates and professionals, made an announcement at a press conference Thursday, advocating for the legalization of psilocybin, commonly known as "magic mushrooms," in Senator Ventura spoke on removing barriers to healing and destigmatizing plant medicines like psilocybin.

Senate Bill 3695, also known as the CURE ACT (Compassionate Use and Research of Entheogens Act), aims to address treatment-resistant conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and eating disorders by legalizing psilocybin. The bill also facilitates research into the safety and efficacy of psilocybin through medical, psychological, and scientific studies.

Senator Ventura calls the use of psilocybin a potential breakthrough in treatment options for citizens struggling with a variety of mental and physical health ailments.

Under Senate Bill 3695, psychedelic therapies would be administered in controlled, supervised settings to ensure safety and effectiveness. Retail sales of these medicines would be prohibited, and they could only be used under supervision at designated service centers.

Katie Sullivan, a healthcare provider and co-founder of Modern Compassionate Care, noted the importance of crafting the bill with input from healthcare providers and advocates to ensure the safe and ethical delivery of psychedelic treatments.

Senate Bill 3695 has been assigned to the Senate Executive Committee. Senator Ventura recognizes the step forward in the movement to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use in Illinois.