Pennsylvania is getting closer to psychedelic reform
Pennsylvania could join the flood of cities and states opening the door to the decriminalization or legalization of psychedelics as treatment for depression, PTSD, and addiction. A bill to promote research into the therapeutic potential of psilocybin stalled in the Pa. House last March, but since then the balance of the chamber has changed.
With the FDA expected to approve MDMA therapy in the next year, and lobbying in Philly City Council underway, local advocates believe progress is coming soon, Ben Seal reports for Billy Penn.
Missed July’s BP Quizzo night? Test your knowledge here
At our latest BP Quizzo competition, which fell on the same night as Queen Bey played the Linc, the prize for best name went to team “Left Our Beyonce Tickets in the Philly Phlush” — for obvious reasons. Meanwhile, we had to pull out a tie-breaker in the race for the grand prize, a $50 Punch Buggy Brewing gift card, with teams “It’s All About the Bread” and “Fore! Seasons Total Landscaping” each notching 19/24 correct answers.
Now it’s your turn. Without using Google, can you beat their high score?
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Gov. Shapiro’s administration ended public funding of Real Alternatives, a so-called “crisis pregnancy center” that tries to stop abortions. [Capital-Star]
• After partisan delays, Pa. legislators missed the deadline for a long-in-the-works ballot referendum that would give survivors of childhood sexual abuse survivors a two-year window to sue. [Spotlight PA]
• Supt. Watlington wants to pilot year-round schooling in Philadelphia. What does that look like? Belmont Charter in West Philly has done it for two decades. [KYW/Chalkbeat]
• The new Lights of North Broad app will take you on an AR tour of important community spots along the corridor, from the Divine Lorraine to the Uptown Theater to local businesses. [Technically]
• A West Philly street is now named for Nehemiah Davis, the 31-year-old, globally famous entrepreneur and philanthropist also known as @neodaviso. [CBS3/Instagram]
• As of last year, most local locations of the Checkers burger chain had closed, but a new franchisee has plans to reopen five in the region, aiming to bring the brand “back to its glory in the Philly market.” [iWriteTee 2022/Biz Journal$]
• So, did Phillies fans save Trea Turner’s season? Like with Alec Bohm last year, one can hope this marks a turning point as the team steams toward another wild card berth. [Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing doing for Mayor Kenney today in the public eye. The Inquirer looked into the spending of his political PAC over the past three years, finding that little money went to support other candidates for office; most went to consulting and expenses.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍹 Billy Penn event: This month’s BP Quizzo trivia night lands at annex. at the Divine Lorraine, in partnership with the North Broad Renaissance. We’ll have happy hour specials and prizes for the winners. Space is limited, so RSVP today. (6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24)
🕺 What goes together like PB&J? Prince, Bowie, and Jagger, at least at Callowhill’s Trestle Inn, which hosts a happy hour tribute dance party to the three artists. Free. (6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11)
🎎 Celebrate the Obon Festival at Shofuso through live folk music, dancing, arts, and more, hosted by the Japanese American Society of America. Free. (3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12)
📖 Billy Penn is proud to headline the inaugural Philly Story Fest, joining journalists from media outlets around Philadelphia to tell the city’s best stories on stage at the Bok. Early bird tix are $17. (7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 5)
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