Louisiana
Psilocybin has mixed legal status in Louisiana as of 17 Aug 2026.1
- Checked against 2 cited sources at this review.
1. What the law is
SB 43 / Act No. 956 (2026): Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative within the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health, covering psilocybin, ibogaine, and related compounds in clinical studies; passed Senate 35-0 and House 97-0; became law without the governor's signature June 23, 2026; effective August 1, 20261
Louisiana's psychedelic therapy law passed 35-0 in the Senate and 97-0 in the House, and the governor never signed it. SB 43 became law by lapse as Act No. 956 on June 23, 2026 and took effect on August 1, 2026, adding R.S. 28:211 to 212 and creating a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative inside the Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health. What it supports is clinical study of psilocybin and ibogaine. 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 SB 43 (2026) became law without the governor's signature as Act No. 956 on June 23, 2026 and took effect on August 1, 2026, creating a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative within the Louisiana Department of Health's Office of Behavioral Health to support clinical studies of psilocybin and ibogaine.
Psilocybin is classified as a controlled substance under the Louisiana Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (La. R.S. 40:961 et seq.), and it remains illegal to possess outside any authorized clinical context. In the 2026 Regular Session the Legislature passed SB 43, which directs the Department of Health, through its Office of Behavioral Health, to create a Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative to support clinical studies involving psilocybin, ibogaine, and related compounds; according to the official bill record the measure passed the Senate 35-0 and the House 97-0, the conference report was adopted, and the enrolled bill was transmitted to the governor on June 1, 2026. The governor did not sign it, and it became law by lapse as Act No. 956 on June 23, 2026, taking effect on August 1, 2026 and adding R.S. 28:211 to 212. An earlier study-framework vehicle, HB 532, was superseded by SB 43 as the live bill. Act 956 does not decriminalize or legalize psilocybin for the public; it authorizes a state-supervised research initiative, and the substance is illegal now under existing state law regardless of the initiative's progress.
2. Pending legislation
No bill is on file in Louisiana that would change this record, as of the 17 Aug 2026 review.
3. History
The laws behind today’s status, when each took effect, and every review since, in order.
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.
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.
SB 43 became law without the governor's signature as Act No. 956.
Louisiana's psychedelic-assisted therapy initiative became law as Act 956. It takes effect August 1, 2026.
Act 956 took effect, creating the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Initiative in the Office of Behavioral Health.
Mixed status takes effect.
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.
4. Trials in Louisiana
Interventional psilocybin trials with at least one study site in Louisiana, drawn from ClinicalTrials.gov, EU CTIS, and ISRCTN. Registry data is reported by sponsors and shown as filed.
Recruiting, active, completed and closed add up to the 4 trials with a study site in Louisiana, as of Aug 2026. Closed covers trials terminated, suspended, withdrawn or left unverified.
| Registry ID | Trial | Phase | Sponsor | Status | Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT06793397 (opens in new tab) | 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 | Started |
| NCT06899594 (opens in new tab) | Psilocybin for Methamphetamine Addiction (opens in new tab)Recruiting at LSU Health Shreveport, Shreveport | Phase Phase Early 1 | Sponsor Kevin Murnane | Status Recruiting | Started |
| NCT06564818 (opens in new tab) | 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 | Started |
| NCT03775200 (opens in new tab) | 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 | Started |
ClinicalTrials.gov data courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
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. Psilocybin has mixed legal status in Louisiana as of 17 Aug 2026. Some laws control the compound and the fungus separately, so this record states the position for psilocybin in Louisiana.
Sources and confidence
Every status line is checked against the primary sources below. How each record is graded for confidence is set out in the methodology.
- 1.legis.la.gov (opens in new tab) · legis.la.gov
- 2.Marijuana Moment.Marijuana Moment (opens in new tab) · marijuanamoment.net
Cited at the review
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws change frequently, and enforcement practice can differ from the letter of the law. Verify current status with local authorities before relying on this record.
Changes to this record
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.
Louisiana: psilocybin legal status. The Psilocybin Record. Accession US-LA-001. Status as of 17 Aug 2026. https://psilocybinlegalization.com/record/louisiana
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