In an important step toward establishing a regulated medical psilocybin program, New Mexico's Medical Psilocybin Advisory Board’s Training and Education Committee hosted a meeting on April 10, 2026, to discuss the framework for educating and certifying psilocybin practitioners. The committee, led by Chairperson Brenda Burgard, outlined structured pathways for training, reciprocity, and certification aimed at ensuring safe, ethical, and culturally attuned access to psilocybin therapy.

Laying the groundwork for a regulated ecosystem

Opening the session, Dr. Dominic Zerlow, director of the Center for Medical Cannabis and Psilocybin, reiterated the importance of creating a comprehensive framework to govern practitioners. He noted that public safety and ethical integrity remain the keystones of New Mexico's program. Attendees were reminded to approach discussions with professionalism as the event was recorded for future reference.

Burgard introduced the agenda and delved into the core competencies and reciprocity model that will shape the state’s psilocybin training program. This framework targets licensed practitioners, Indigenous healers, supervisors, and those in training both within New Mexico and neighboring states. By harmonizing standards across regions, the program aims to create an accessible and robust structure while integrating culturally grounded practices.

Core competencies facilitate quality assurance

The competencies under discussion establish the minimum standards required to practice safely, ethically, and effectively in a regulated setting. These encompass both foundational and advanced training in:

• Didactic education: Covering ethics, laws, and the history of psilocybin use.
• Practicum requirements: Providing hands-on experience with supervised facilitation.
• Cultural and community sensitivity: Emphasizing humility when working with diverse New Mexican communities, particularly Indigenous groups.

For out-of-state practitioners, the framework seeks to fast-track New Mexico licensing through a “reciprocity track,” which requires a New Mexico residency and a minimum of 10 hours of state-specific compliance training. Eligible applicants range from licensed mental health professionals to certified psychedelic facilitators, medical providers, spiritual care practitioners, and end-of-life care specialists.

Notably, the program also accommodates an optional refresher practicum for those re-entering the field after a hiatus.

Integrating cultural diversity

A central theme in the meeting was the emphasis on cultural humility and integration. Burgard stressed the importance of tailoring the program to honor New Mexico’s unique composition, including tribal, Pueblo, Hispano, and rural populations. She highlighted that this cultural emphasis aims to avoid extractive practices and ensure broader inclusivity.

Modules dedicated to cultural humility and lineage-recognition will help participants:

• Understand the historical and cultural roles of psilocybin.
• Address the impact of colonization and the war on drugs.
• Create equitable access strategies to serve underserved communities.

The committee further proposed pathways to certify Indigenous and tribal practitioners based on their lived experiences and traditional knowledge. This option ensures inclusivity while respecting tribal sovereignty.

Ethics, boundaries, and supervision tracks

Given the significance of ethics in psychedelic-assisted therapy, the committee is considering distinct modules for power dynamics, role clarity, and scope alignment. Burgard emphasized the need for clinicians to maintain professional boundaries without blending spiritual and clinical responsibilities, which could lead to ethical violations.

To elevate practitioner accountability and oversight, the committee is also advancing supervision tracks. These tracks include training for supervisors to assess facilitator readiness, manage ethical violations, and incorporate reciprocity principles into supervision models.

A modular, flexible framework for growth

Burgard outlined six key modules currently proposed for psilocybin training:

1. Legal and regulatory alignment (2 hours): Covers New Mexico-specific laws and reporting competencies.
2. Legacy, lineage, and reciprocity (3 hours): Focuses on historical and ethical issues, including harm reduction and equitable access.
3. Cultural humility (2 hours): Centers on working effectively within New Mexico’s diverse communities.
4. Ethics and scope alignment (2 hours): Geared toward maintaining clarity in practitioner roles.
5. Safety and risk alignment (1 hour): Designed to comply with state safety protocols.
6. Optional practicum refresher (6–8 hours): Available for those needing additional experience or reinforcement.

These modules incorporate group discussions, community feedback, and adjustments based on practitioner input, ensuring an adaptive framework.

An early model for psilocybin training

Catherine Warnock, a longstanding educator in harm reduction practices, was invited to present her insights. Warnock’s experience spans four years of offering psilocybin-related training in New Mexico. She emphasized her goal to develop community-based safety education rather than appropriating cultural or ceremonial practices. Her framework, influenced by Canadian training standards and U.S.-based clinical research, blends experiential learning and formal guidance tailored to the needs of emerging facilitators.

Warnock suggested that practicums serve as critical bridges between theoretical and hands-on training. Participants would learn risk management, client safety protocols, and referral strategies within New Mexico’s legal framework. She also discussed the potential contribution of national organizations like the Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Association (PATA) in standardizing competency curricula while adapting to state-specific contexts.

Broader implications

New Mexico’s approach to medical psilocybin education arrives at a pivotal time in psychedelic medicine. With states like Oregon and Colorado already advancing regulated frameworks, the national conversation is shifting toward standardized but culturally sensitive models for professional training. New Mexico’s emphasis on reciprocity, ethics, and cultural humility could position the state as a thought leader, particularly in elevating Indigenous and community-based competencies.

However, challenges remain—primary among them, deciding on practical hour requirements, supervision standards, and the cost of long-term practitioner training. The committee appears committed to balancing affordability and accessibility while ensuring the highest quality standards.

For now, the April 10 meeting represents a foundational step in aligning New Mexico’s psilocybin program with its values of safety, ethics, and inclusivity. While implementation timelines remain fluid, the groundwork laid by the Medical Psilocybin Advisory Board's Training and Education Committee could serve as a model for other states exploring similar initiatives.