Spain hosts first parliamentary conference on psychedelic assisted psychotherapies

Photo credit: SEMPsi

On February 13, 2026, Spain’s Congress of Deputies hosted its first parliamentary conference dedicated to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies. Held in the Ernest Lluch Chamber, the four hour event marked a shift from peripheral debate to institutional engagement.

The conference was promoted by the Inawe Foundation and the Spanish Society of Psychedelic Medicine, both community supporters of PAREA. The event brought together clinicians, researchers, and regulatory representatives to examine scientific evidence, clinical models, and regulatory pathways.

Presentations reviewed preclinical research, biomolecular mechanisms, and clinical findings, including emerging evidence in treatment-resistant depression. Researchers highlighted both promise and limits, calling for methodological rigor and careful translation into policy.

A clinical panel focused on therapeutic structure. Psychedelic-assisted therapy was described as a model integrating preparation, supervised sessions, and structured integration. The substance was framed as instrumental within a broader psychotherapeutic process requiring specific training, protocols, and safeguards. A first person testimony underscored the human stakes of chronic mental health conditions.

Speakers emphasised that the debate is not about deregulation, but responsible regulation. International regulatory models were also examined, with Oregon’s supervised psilocybin services and longitudinal outcome tracking were presented as examples of controlled access within existing legal frameworks. Discussions addressed the constraints of Schedule I classification and the possibility of research pathways, compassionate use, and structured pilot programs.

The final panel turned to Spain’s context. Participants highlighted funding barriers, the need for public research, workforce training, and equity in access. The message was clear. Any progress must combine scientific rigor, patient protection, and institutional responsibility.

For Spain, the debate has formally entered Parliament. The next phase will depend on sustained evidence, ethical safeguards, and informed policy dialogue.

Read the full report and watch the recording here.