Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
California Establish TREAT Institute Initiative (2024)
| California Establish TREAT Institute Initiative | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 5, 2024 | |
| Topic Healthcare | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Amendment & Statute | Origin Citizens |
The California Establish TREAT Institute Initiative (#23-0013) was not on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 5, 2024.
The initiatives would have established the TREAT Institute, which stands for Treatment, Research, Education, Access, and Therapies. It would have been financed through general obligation bonds and funding would have been contingent upon specific milestones described by the law. The TREAT Institute would have administered psychedelic medicines to treat mental health conditions.[1][2]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ | Authorizes bonds and creates state agency for psychedelic therapy research. Initiative constitutional amendment and statute.[3] | ” |
Petition summary
The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets was as follows:[2]
| “ | Creates state agency to regulate 'psychedelic medicines' (defined as substances that 'produce altered states of consciousness,' including psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, MDMA, ketamine, cannabis). Requires agency provide funding for research, development, and delivery of psychedelic medicines and therapies for treatment of mental health conditions and health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Establishes constitutional 'right to conduct research' using psychedelic medicines. Authorizes $5 billion in state general obligation bonds for agency funding, with $500 million annual limit. Appropriates money from General Fund to repay bonds.[3] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the initiative can be read here.
Path to the ballot
The state process
In California, the number of signatures required for a combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast in the preceding gubernatorial election. Petitions are allowed to circulate for 180 days from the date the attorney general prepares the petition language. Signatures need to be certified at least 131 days before the general election. As the verification process can take multiple months, the secretary of state provides suggested deadlines for ballot initiatives.
The requirements to get combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statutes certified for the 2024 ballot:
- Signatures: 874,641 valid signatures were required.
- Deadline: The deadline for signature verification was 131 days before the general election, which was around June 27, 2024. However, the process of verifying signatures can take multiple months and proponents are recommended to file signatures at least two months before the verification deadline.
Signatures are first filed with local election officials, who determine the total number of signatures submitted. If the total number is equal to at least 100 percent of the required signatures, then local election officials perform a random check of signatures submitted in their counties. If the random sample estimates that more than 110 percent of the required number of signatures are valid, the initiative is eligible for the ballot. If the random sample estimates that between 95 and 110 percent of the required number of signatures are valid, a full check of signatures is done to determine the total number of valid signatures. If less than 95 percent are estimated to be valid, the initiative does not make the ballot.
Details about this initiative
- The initiative was filed on July 19, 2023, by Jeannie Fontana.[2]
- The initiative was cleared for signature gathering on September 22, 2023.[2]
- The initiative did not meet its circulation deadline of March 20, 2024, and did not qualify for the ballot.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ California Attorney General's Office, "Full text," accessed July 20, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 California Secretary of State's Office, "List of petitions," accessed May 12, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
 |
State of California Sacramento (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
