1. What the law is
Louisiana's psychedelic therapy law passed 35-0 in the Senate and 97-0 in the House, and the governor never signed it. It became law by lapse anyway. What the initiative supports is clinical study of psilocybin and ibogaine, run out of the state health department. It opens no route for anyone else, which is why the substance is still controlled here.
Psilocybin is not legal for general possession or use in Louisiana; it remains a controlled substance under state law, and possession or distribution is subject to criminal penalties. The status is mixed because the 2026 initiative supports clinical studies of psilocybin and ibogaine while changing nothing for anyone outside them.
Psilocybin is classified as a controlled substance under the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law, La. R.S. 40:961 et seq. On the bill's path: the conference report was adopted and the enrolled bill was transmitted to the governor on June 1, 2026. An earlier study-framework vehicle, HB 532, was superseded by SB 43 as the live bill.
2. Trials in Louisiana
Interventional psilocybin trials with at least one site in Louisiana, as their sponsors filed them with ClinicalTrials.gov, EU CTIS and ISRCTN. Each row links to the registry record, which sets out who may take part.
Recruiting or opening counts trials recruiting now, not yet recruiting, or enrolling by invitation. Closed counts trials terminated, suspended, withdrawn or left unverified by their sponsors.
| Registry ID | Trial | Phase | Sponsor | Status | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06793397 | A Study of a Deuterated Psilocin Analog (CYB003) in Humans With Major Depressive Disorder (opens in new tab)Recruiting at Atlas Psychiatry, New Orleans | Phase Phase 3 | Sponsor Cybin IRL Limited | Status Recruiting | Start date |
| NCT06899594 | Psilocybin for Methamphetamine Addiction (opens in new tab)Recruiting at LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport | Phase Phase Early 1 | Sponsor Kevin Murnane | Status Recruiting | Start date |
| NCT06564818 | A Study of a Deuterated Psilocin Analog (CYB003) in Humans With Major Depressive Disorder (opens in new tab)Site at DelRicht Research, New Orleans | Phase Phase 3 | Sponsor Cybin IRL Limited | Status Active, not recruiting | Start date |
| NCT03775200 | The Safety and Efficacy of Psilocybin in Participants With Treatment Resistant Depression (opens in new tab)Site at Ray Worthy Psychiatry LLC, New Orleans | Phase Phase 2 | Sponsor COMPASS Pathways | Status Completed | Start date |
ClinicalTrials.gov data courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
3. History
The legal events behind this entry, dated and oldest first. Our own reviews and corrections are listed under Changes to this record.
SB 43 introduced in the Louisiana Senate during the 2026 Regular Session, addressing psychedelic-assisted therapy.
SB 43 enrolled and transmitted to the governor after passing the Senate 35-0 and the House 97-0; conference report adopted.
SB 43 became law without the governor's signature as Act No. 956.
Act 956 took effect, creating the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative in the Office of Behavioral Health.
4. Proposed laws
No proposed law is on file in Louisiana that would change this entry, as of the 17 Aug 2026 review.
5. Common questions
Is psilocybin legal in Louisiana?
No. Psilocybin remains a controlled substance under the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (La. R.S. 40:961 et seq.), and possession or distribution is subject to criminal penalties. Act 956 (2026) created a state clinical-research initiative and does not make psilocybin legal for general use.
What does Act 956 (2026) actually do?
According to the official Louisiana Legislature bill record, SB 43 became Act No. 956 and directs the Department of Health, through its Office of Behavioral Health, to establish a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative to support clinical studies involving psilocybin and ibogaine. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and became law without the governor's signature on June 23, 2026.
Now that Act 956 is in force, can I legally obtain psilocybin in Louisiana?
No. Act 956 authorizes a state-supervised clinical-study initiative within the Department of Health. It does not legalize personal possession, sale, or use of psilocybin. The substance remains a controlled substance under state law outside any authorized clinical context.
When did Act 956 take effect?
August 1, 2026. SB 43 passed both chambers, was transmitted to the governor on June 1, 2026, and became law without his signature as Act No. 956 on June 23, 2026.
Is psilocybin decriminalized anywhere in Louisiana?
No statewide decriminalization measure has been enacted. Psilocybin remains a controlled substance under Louisiana law, and Act 956 is a clinical-research measure.
Are magic mushrooms ("shrooms") legal in Louisiana?
"Magic mushrooms" and "shrooms" are common names for fungi that contain psilocybin, and this entry states the law on psilocybin itself, which some laws treat separately from the fungus. Psilocybin has mixed legal status in Louisiana.
Read the law
SB 43 / Act No. 956 (2026), adding R.S. 28:211 to 212: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative within the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health, covering psilocybin, ibogaine, and related compounds in clinical studies; became law without the governor's signature June 23, 2026; effective August 1, 20261
Sources
This entry's status is checked against the primary sources below, and the methodology explains how each entry is graded for confidence.
- 1.legis.la.gov (opens in new tab) · legis.la.gov
- 2.Marijuana Moment.Marijuana Moment (opens in new tab) · marijuanamoment.net
This entry is for information only and is not legal or medical advice. Laws change, and enforcement can differ from the letter of the law, so check the current position against the primary sources above before relying on it.
Changes to this record
3 changes on file, the latest on . Show allHide
Every change we have made to this record, dated, corrections included. Nothing changes silently.
Louisiana's psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative is law and has been in force since 1 August 2026. The entry still described it as a bill awaiting the governor's signature.
Louisiana's psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative became law as Act 956. It takes effect August 1, 2026.
Louisiana's mixed status was confirmed. SB 43, the psychedelic therapy initiative, had passed both chambers unanimously and was sitting on the governor's desk as of June 1, 2026.
Psilocybin Media Group. "Louisiana: psilocybin legal status." The Psilocybin Record, accession US-LA-001, version of 23 Aug 2026. https://psilocybinlegalization.com/record/louisiana