Richard Zwicky talks with Andrew "Andy" Coop, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and chair of Maryland’s Task Force on the Responsible Use of Natural Psychedelic Substances.

Coop discusses the task force's new 250-page report, which outlines a strategic vision for the legal and safe use of natural psychedelics—specifically psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline—to treat mental health conditions and chronic pain.

Coop advocates for an "ensemble approach" that doesn't wait for federal FDA approval, instead proposing a phased regulatory framework starting with medical use and eventually moving toward supervised adult use. Central to this vision is the concept of responsibility, ensuring that clinical research is rigorous and that the resulting therapies remain accessible and equitable for all residents of Maryland, rather than just the well-connected.