In a sharp rebuke to a bloc of physician-lawmakers, the Georgia House on Tuesday rejected a plan to tighten control over clinics that administer ketamine and other psychedelic therapy drugs, voting 73-88 against House Bill 717. The measure would have told the state medical board to write clinic rules and, more controversially, limited majority ownership to physicians with specialized training. The defeat left supporters, many of them doctors, warning about patient safety, while opponents argued the bill would choke off access and hand too much power to physicians.
What HB 717 Would Have Done
HB 717 sought to amend Georgia’s Medical Practice Act so the Georgia Composite Medical Board would establish licensing and safety standards for psychedelic-assisted treatment clinics and decide who may administer these treatments, according to the bill text posted on LegiScan. Under committee and legal summaries, the bill would have required physicians with advanced airway management training to oversee many clinic administrations and allowed certified registered nurse anesthetists and anesthesia assistants to participate under physician supervision. Supporters said the framework would standardize care for off-label ketamine use, while regulators warned the board would need resources to inspect and enforce the standards, as outlined by JDSupra.
Doctors Say Safety Is At Stake
Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, the bill’s sponsor, told the House, "Ketamine is a very, very dangerous drug," urging colleagues to get ahead of a rapid expansion in psychedelic therapies. Anesthesiologist Rep. Michelle Au and emergency-physician Rep. Mark Newton backed the measure, saying they have seen serious respiratory reactions when ketamine is used in outpatient settings. Their push for tighter rules and physician oversight was detailed by Capitol Beat.
Opponents Warn About Access And Market Control
Opponents countered that the ownership mandate looked less like patient protection and more like an attempt by doctors to corner a fast-growing market. They warned it could leave rural or low-income patients with no nearby treatment options. "House Bill 717 simply does not regulate clinics," Rep. Lauren McDonald III, R-Cumming, said, arguing the proposal "prioritizes title over training" and would throttle sector growth. The exchange was documented by WABE.
Next Steps
After the vote, a lawmaker moved to reconsider, and Speaker Jon Burns said the House would revisit HB 717 when lawmakers return Wednesday, keeping the fight alive into the next legislative day. Clinics, patients and the Composite Medical Board will be watching to see whether lawmakers ultimately lean toward tighter ownership and staffing limits or broader access as psychedelic therapies expand across the state; for the floor vote and subsequent reporting see WABE.
