Episode
Right to Try Psilocybin: Law, Death, and Dignity - Kathryn L. Tucker, J.D.
- Podcast
- The Psychedelic Podcast
- Published
- Apr 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3406
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-353/?ref=278
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-psychedelic-podcast-221919/episodes/right-to-try-psilocybin-law-death-and-dignity-kathryn-l-tucker-j-d/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-psychedelic-podcast-221919/right-to-try-psilocybin-law-death-and-dignity-kathryn-l-tucker-j-d.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Kathryn L. Tucker, J.D., a leading civil rights attorney and advocate for end-of-life autonomy, about the legal effort to expand access to psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients facing serious illness. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-353/?ref=278 Kathryn shares how decades of work in right-to-die litigation led her to recognize a critical gap in palliative care, addressing psychological and existential suffering at the end of life. Drawing from emerging clinical research, she explains why psilocybin may offer meaningful relief for anxiety, depression, and distress in terminal patients. The conversation explores the legal pathways being pursued to make this treatment accessible, including Right to Try laws, federal litigation with the DEA, and efforts to reschedule psilocybin. Kathryn also reflects on the broader cultural and ethical implications of allowing individuals greater choice in how they approach death. Kathryn L. Tucker, JD, is a nationally recognized leader in advancing improved care for seriously ill and dying patients. She has held leadership roles across multiple nonprofit organizations, including the National Psychedelics Association, the End of Life Liberty Project, and Compassion & Choices. Tucker has litigated landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill, and has played a key role in both end-of-life litigation and psychedelic policy advocacy. Highlights: Right to Try laws explained Psilocybin as investigational medicine DEA barriers to patient access Litigation strategies for psychedelic access Rescheduling psilocybin efforts Palliative care gaps in mental suffering Legal vs underg…