In December 2023, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) wrote to the government with a series of recommendations about changing the way universities and hospitals can study psychedelic substances.
Their recommendations concerned the license that is required to study drugs such as DMT, LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin. Currently, these drugs are categorised under Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs 2001, and institutions wishing to use them in their studies require a controlled drugs license.
Obtaining a controlled drugs license is a long and costly process that the ACMD suggest presents unnecessary barriers to research. Some researchers refuse to carry out research that requires this kind of license because of the bureaucracy involved, and also due to the stigma that often surrounds illegal drugs.
The ACMD, alongside others, including the University of Manchester and the independent drugs charity Drug Science, have long called for the relaxation of drug research laws. In their letter to the government, they set out their five recommendations to dismantle barriers to research, these were;
- Exempt Research Institutions from Licensing
The ACMD recommended that universities and hospitals be exempt from requiring a Home Office licence to possess, supply, or administer Schedule 1 substances for research purposes. This would bring Schedule 1 substances in line with how Schedule 2 drugs are currently handled under existing regulations.
- Exempt Clinical Trials with MHRA/HRA/REC Approval
Where researchers have already secured approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Health Research Authority (HRA), or the Research Ethics Committee (REC), they should not also need a Home Office licence to administer Schedule 1 substances to human participants.
- Exemption for Licensed Suppliers
Organisations already authorised to supply Schedule 2–5 substances to hospitals or universities should also be permitted to supply Schedule 1 substances for research without needing a separate licence.
- Licensing System Reform
The Home Office’s domestic and import/export licensing system should be improved to make the process easier for first-time or infrequent applicants, with clearer guidance and greater transparency.
- Evaluate Policy Impact
A structured framework should be developed to evaluate whether any policy changes made are effectively reducing barriers to research.
In July of this year, the government issued a formal response, agreeing in principle to recommendations 1 and 2, which Drug Science took as meaning they “expressed support for exempting research institutions and approved clinical trials from Schedule 1 licensing but stressed that operational feasibility must first be evaluated.”
In a statement, Drug Science said, “The Home Office indicated it would accept the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’ recommendation—provided it aligns with their proposed pilot scheme. This scheme will assess the practical implementation of the policy and examine its real-world effects. The response also underscored the importance of maintaining compliance with international drug control obligations and ensuring cross-departmental coordination.”
The government’s reply also included the acceptance of recommendations 4 and 5, but rejected recommendation 3 for now and said it is seeking further advice from the ACMD.
