THE BUZZ: DIFFERENT TRIP — Past efforts to legalize the personal use of psychedelic drugs in California have often fizzled amid a lack of political muscle and campaign infrastructure. But a new coalition — which launches today in support of a bill to legalize magic mushrooms and other hallucinogens for therapeutic use — has enlisted a roster that is decidedly more A-team than pipedream. The group, dubbed the Alliance for Safer Use of Psychedelics, exclusively spoke with Playbook about its leadership, which includes veteran Sacramento operatives, medical researchers, national drug-policy reform advocates, veterans and first responders, as well as parents who’ve lost children to psychedelic use. The cohort of strategists, experts and lobbyists, many reported here for the first time, highlights the intensity of the effort around this year’s bill. Dan Seeman, a longtime lobbyist at the state Capitol and former Newsom adviser, said the new team is “indicative of the increased seriousness of the advocacy behind this campaign.” Their revived effort comes after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill last fall that would have decriminalized the personal use of some psychedelics, including mushrooms — similar bills and ballot measures have failed at least a half-dozen times. Now, psychedelic advocates are focused on a new approach with Senate Bill 1012, which would allow for psychedelics administered by licensed and vetted facilitators in therapeutic settings. The bill is carried by state Sen. Scott Wiener, a liberal Democrat who authored last year’s unsuccessful bill, and Assemblymember Marie Waldron, the chamber’s former GOP leader. The bill has a crucial hurdle this week, as the Appropriations Committee faces a deadline to decide the fate of bills with fiscal impacts. Legislative staff hasn’t released a specific cost estimate, though they said the cost several million dollars per year to oversee the program. The key players advocating for the bill: Seeman and Anthony Molina: lobbyists Seeman and Molina, both longtime Sacramento lobbyists, are spearheading efforts within the Capitol. Seeman was previously deputy cabinet secretary in Newsom’s administration, advising the governor on public safety issues, and he was also legislative secretary to former Gov. Jerry Brown. Molina is a former Capitol staffer and previously worked as legislative director for state Sen. Anthony Portantino. New Approach Advocacy Fund: national funder The fund has, for years, backed progressive efforts to repeal drug laws, including marijuana legalization in states across the country. It has recently bankrolled successful ballot initiatives to legalize psychedelics in Oregon and Colorado. Those states broadly decriminalized psychedelics, which is a much more aggressive approach than Wiener’s latest bill. Graham Boyd, the fund’s president, is one of the most prolific drug-policy reform advocates in the country and has worked on numerous state campaigns. New Approach hasn’t disclosed its most recent donors in California, but its work over the last decade has been funded by a host of liberal mega donors, including Progressive Insurance founder Daniel Lewis and Napster founder Sean Parker. Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education: public-safety advocates The Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education is led by parents and public safety advocates whose children have died in psychedelics-involved incidents. They work to raise awareness about the risks of increasing psychedelic use, which has led to a surge in hospitalizations in recent years. That’s why their involvement in the alliance backing SB1012 is so surprising. Last year, the coalition opposed Wiener’s decriminalization bill, urging Newsom to veto it. Kristin Nash, a public health expert and member of the coalition, lost her son after he fatally choked after taking psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms. Nash said her group came to the table after Wiener revised his approach to focus on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, if safely regulated. She said advocates also pushed for the bill to include public education about the risks of psychedelics, including a forthcoming ad campaign. “If you look at the players in the alliance, everyone has their own reason for being at the table,” Nash told Playbook. “Yet we share this idea of safe access to these substances.” Heroic Hearts Project (HHP), VETS (Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions and Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP): PTSD treatment advocates These groups are focused on the potential therapeutic benefits for combat veterans or first responders suffering from mental illnesses, including PTSD or depression. Their support has been crucial in convincing some Republican lawmakers, Walderon included, to support medicinal uses. GOOD MORNING. Happy Monday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. Meanwhile, you can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as “CA Playbook” in your contacts. Or drop us a line at lkorte@politico.com and dgardiner@politico.com, or on X — @DustinGardiner and @Lara_Korte. WHERE’S GAVIN? Nothing official announced. ‘KILL BILL’ CONTEST ALERT! GUESS WHICH BILLS WON'T SURVIVE, WIN PRIZES — It's that time of year again, when California lawmakers run through hundreds of bills in quick succession and announce which will (and won't) advance from the Appropriations committees to the floor. Now’s your chance to make your predictions and compete against your fellow politicos — and the Playbook authors — to guess which bills won't survive Thursday’s dreaded “suspense file.” Those with the most accurate guesses will receive a shout-out in California Playbook and some extra special swag. The first place winner will also be treated to a coffee & pastry date with Playbook writers Lara and Dustin. (And by the way, we are only counting correct guesses as bills that are blocked by the committees — not those that are gutted beyond recognition.) Remember: If you don’t leave your name and email with your prediction, we won’t be able to contact you if you win.
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