Less than half of a percent of Arizona’s new $17 billion budget will pay to study if psychedelic mushrooms can help people with addiction, pain and PTSD.

A drug development researcher says it's time to learn the science behind anecdotes of psilocybin helping people get their lives back.

Dr. Sue Sisley is principal investigator at the Scottsdale Research Institute. The University of Arizona once fired her over cannabis research.

Now, Sisley’s lab is licensed by the feds to grow marijuana and psilocybin. Arizona is making a $5 million research investment.

“This is the first opportunity we have to do FDA-authorized studies on human subjects using real whole natural mushrooms instead of isolated molecules,” she said.

Sisley says she anticipates all of Arizona’s public universities will apply for grant money to study psychedelic mushrooms. The money will flow through the state health department, and Sisley plans to apply.

She thinks skeptical state lawmakers were swayed by hearing from military veterans, police and firefighters.   

“And many of them have experimented with psychedelics like psilocybin mushrooms and discovered tremendous benefits,” said Sisley.

Dr. Sue Sisley

Psilocybin mushrooms