Psychedelic Therapy in California
California has not legalized psilocybin services statewide, and classic psychedelics remain Schedule I under state law. But few states have more activity: several cities have deprioritized enforcement, lawmakers have pushed reform bills for years (SB 519, the vetoed SB 58, and the stalled SB 1012), and the state has deep roots in psychedelic research and culture. Ketamine and esketamine remain the main legal options today.
Your paths to care in California.
Ketamine in medical settings and esketamine (Spravato) at REMS-certified clinics. Ketamine for mental health is off-label. Psilocybin is not legal statewide.
Several cities (Oakland, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Berkeley, Arcata, Eureka) have made entheogen enforcement a low priority. This is not legalization and offers no legal protection.
Licensed psilocybin services in Oregon and regulated natural medicine in Colorado, both short trips from much of California.
Compare the routes, side by side.
We help you choose clear-eyed.
Our concierge compares legal routes, explains the rules in plain language, and helps you choose a path that matches your needs, values, and safety profile.
Psychedelic care in California.
California is central to the modern psychedelic story, yet it has no statewide legal psilocybin program. Classic psychedelics, including psilocybin, psilocin, DMT, and mescaline, remain Schedule I under California's Uniform Controlled Substances Act, so possession, cultivation, and sale are illegal outside approved research.
At the city level, momentum has been real. Oakland decriminalized a wide range of entheogens in 2019, the first US city to do so, followed by Santa Cruz in 2020, San Francisco in 2022, and Berkeley in 2023, with Arcata and Eureka also acting. These resolutions make enforcement a low local priority. They do not legalize anything, permit commercial sales, or stop state or federal enforcement.
At the state level, reform has been persistent but unsuccessful. Senator Scott Wiener's 2021 decriminalization bill (SB 519) stalled in committee. A narrower version (SB 58) passed the legislature in 2023 but was vetoed by Governor Newsom, who asked for an Oregon-style therapeutic framework instead. The response, SB 1012 (2024), would have created a licensed psychedelic-assisted therapy system with a state facilitator board for psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and mescaline, but it died in appropriations amid budget pressure. A 2025 pilot for veterans and first responders (SB 751) also did not pass.
California also remains a research hub, with psilocybin and other trials running at major universities under federal investigational protocols. For most people today, though, the legal options are medical ketamine and esketamine in California, or traveling to licensed psilocybin services in Oregon or Colorado. Our concierge helps you compare these routes, understand the legal picture, and plan preparation and integration.
What to budget for.
In California, the legal options have their own pricing. IV ketamine commonly runs several hundred dollars per session, with a starting course of multiple sessions, and is usually off-label and out of pocket. Esketamine (Spravato) is often insurance-covered for treatment-resistant depression because it is FDA-approved.
If you travel for licensed psilocybin services, Oregon and Colorado centers set their own session pricing, commonly well over a thousand dollars and sometimes several thousand, usually including preparation and integration. Add travel and lodging, though both states are short trips from much of California.
Ask about HSA or FSA eligibility where applicable. Coverage and policies vary by plan and provider. Our concierge fees are separate from any provider's charges; see our pricing page.
Before any session, cover this.
- Share all medications, especially SSRIs and SNRIs, MAOIs, stimulants, and blood-pressure drugs.
- Review cardiac history, seizure risk, bipolar spectrum, psychosis risk, pregnancy, and sleep apnea.
- Confirm monitoring, chaperone policies, and emergency planning with any provider.
- If considering at-home or compounded ketamine, discuss supervision and current FDA alerts with your prescriber.
Learn more about our Safety and Harm Reduction principles.
What we do, and what we don’t.
What we do
- Education, safety screening guidance, and integration support
- Compare legal options and verify licensed programs
- Share the vetting questions we ask any facilitator
What we do not do
- Sell, supply, or store controlled substances
- Instruct on obtaining substances or connect to distributors
- Provide medical or legal advice
A closer look at California.
Where much of this began
California shaped modern psychedelic culture and science, from the Bay Area counterculture of the 1960s to the Esalen Institute in Big Sur and the Shulgins' chemistry work. That history is part of why the conversation runs so deep here.
A leader in local reform
Oakland was the first US city to decriminalize a wide range of entheogens, in 2019. Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Berkeley, Arcata, and Eureka followed. These are enforcement-priority measures, not legalization.
Reform that keeps trying
State efforts have been persistent: SB 519 (2021) stalled, SB 58 (2023) was vetoed, SB 1012 (2024) died in committee, and a 2025 veterans pilot did not pass. The push continues but has not become law.
Why the vetoes happened
In vetoing SB 58, Governor Newsom asked for a regulated, Oregon-style therapeutic framework rather than simple decriminalization. SB 1012 tried to answer that but stalled on cost during a difficult budget year.
A research and clinical hub
California universities run psilocybin and other psychedelic trials under federal protocols, and the state has one of the deepest ketamine and esketamine markets in the country. Quality varies widely, which is where vetting matters.
Care today: what people actually do
Most California seekers use medical ketamine or esketamine with screening and monitoring, or travel to licensed psilocybin services in Oregon or Colorado. Underground and ceremonial work also exists and carries legal and safety risk. We do not broker illegal activity. We help you compare options and plan safely.
Why this matters
California has the culture, the research, and the clinics, but not a legal psilocybin program. Until that changes, the safe paths run through medical ketamine or out-of-state licensed services. Our concierge helps you choose the right one for your goals, values, and risk profile.
Questions, answered plainly.
Is psilocybin therapy legal in California?+
No. Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics are Schedule I under California law, and there is no statewide legal services program. Several cities have deprioritized enforcement, but that is not legalization.
What legal options are in California today?+
Medical ketamine (IV or IM, off-label) and esketamine (Spravato) at REMS-certified clinics are legal and widely available. For psilocybin, the legal route is to travel to licensed services in Oregon or Colorado.
What about the decriminalized cities?+
Cities like Oakland, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and Berkeley have made entheogen enforcement a low local priority. They do not legalize possession or sale, and they do not prevent state or federal enforcement.
Why hasn't California passed a law?+
SB 519 stalled in 2021, SB 58 was vetoed in 2023 in favor of a therapeutic model, and SB 1012, which tried to build that model, died in committee on cost in 2024. A 2025 veterans pilot also did not pass. Advocates continue to push.
Can I travel for legal psilocybin services?+
Many Californians travel to Oregon or Colorado, where supervised psilocybin or natural medicine services are licensed and regulated, both short trips from much of the state. Our concierge can help you plan preparation and integration.
Is MDMA-assisted therapy available?+
MDMA-assisted therapy is not FDA-approved. The FDA issued a Complete Response Letter and requested an additional Phase 3 trial. Access is primarily through clinical trials.
How much does psychedelic-assisted care cost in California?+
IV ketamine commonly runs several hundred dollars per session, while esketamine (Spravato) is often insurance-covered. Out-of-state psilocybin services usually run well over a thousand dollars plus travel. See our pricing page for our concierge fees, which are separate from any provider's charges.
What should I ask a facilitator or clinic before booking?+
Ask about medical and psychological screening, who monitors you during sessions, emergency planning, and what preparation and integration are included. These are the questions we ask any provider before we match you.
Are there medical or medication contraindications?+
Share all medications, especially SSRIs and SNRIs, MAOIs, stimulants, and blood-pressure drugs, and review cardiac history, seizure risk, bipolar spectrum, psychosis risk, pregnancy, and sleep apnea with a qualified provider. This is general information, not medical advice.
Need help choosing? Let’s talk.
Our concierge can walk you through the legal options in your area, with no pressure and no sales pitch.