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November 19, 2025 | Controlled Substances, Drug Courts, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Legal & Legislative Research, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Public Health, Public Safety, Substance Misuse

Psilocybin is a chemical compound produced by more than 100 species of mushrooms found growing around the world. Because of the psychedelic effects that these mushrooms produce when consumed, psilocybin-containing mushrooms have been colloquially referred to as “magic mushrooms” or “shrooms.” In this document, the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA) identifies both currently-in-force statutes/regulations and recently proposed legislation related to psilocybin throughout all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories....

November 18, 2025 | Controlled Substances, Innovative Initiatives, Peer Support and Recoery Services, Recovery, Reentry, Substance Misuse, Substance Use Disorder, Workforce Development

In 2022, Frank Taylor, co-owner of Taylor Made Farm, a farm in Lexington, Kentucky for elite racehorses, pioneered the idea of opening the farm to men in need of substance use recovery to start their journey to long-term recovery by learning to take care of the farm’s million-dollar horses. He partnered with Christian Countzler, an Army veteran, to open Stable Recovery, a substance use disorder recovery program that combines peer recovery and 12-step program participation with horsemanship. ...

November 12, 2025 | News Bites

Each issue of News Bites will highlight unique news articles from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorders, and the criminal justice system. This newsletter will feature stories that you may have missed but are important to the field....

October 23, 2025 | Opioids, Pharmacy, Reports & Studies, Substance Use Disorder, Treatments

In collaboration with the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA) recently released "Pharmacists and Buprenorphine: Analysis of State Laws and Regulations." Funded by the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) Foundation, this project, named Pharmacy Bridge, focused on a demonstration of the real-world application and outcomes of two innovative models of pharmacy-based, low-barrier buprenorphine induction and maintenance services: (1) collaborative care through a collaborative practice agreement (CPA); and (2) independent pharmacist prescribing of buprenorphine. The report contains state-by-state descriptions and analyses of relevant statutes and regulations as well as a detailed summary of overall findings....

October 14, 2025 | Case Law Monitor

Case Law Monitor is the bimonthly case law newsletter of the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association (LAPPA). Each issue will highlight unique cases from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorders, and the criminal justice system. ...

September 17, 2025 | Controlled Substances, Fentanyl, Harm Reduction, Law Enforcement, Legal & Legislative Research, Opioids, Public Health, Public Safety, Sharps/Syringes, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

Given the increased emphasis in recent years on using harm reduction strategies to slow the overdose crisis, the hurdle posed by state drug paraphernalia laws to freely allowing drug checking services or establishing syringe services programs is not inconspicuous. Accordingly, in 2022, LAPPA first undertook an extensive research project to determine how drug paraphernalia laws throughout the 50 states, District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories treat drug checking equipment (including fentanyl test strips and other items) and needles/syringes. This January 2024 version, which sets forth a summary of state and territory laws as of December 2023, is an update to the original report. ...

September 16, 2025 | News Bites

Each issue of News Bites will highlight unique news articles from around the United States in the areas of public health and safety, substance use disorders, and the criminal justice system. This newsletter will feature stories that you may have missed but are important to the field....