IT'S THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A GRAND JURY REPORT ALLEGES THAT 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF TAXPAYER MONEY WAS MS APPROPRIATED BY THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION.

WE FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE GRAND JURY'S FINDINGS AND REACTION FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE.

HELPING US BETTER AND THROUGH PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS ONCE CONTROVERSIAL TREATMENTS NOW COULD BE A POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

AND IT'S CALLED THE RALLY OF HOPE AND ITS ROOTS ARE STEEPED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON DURING THE 1960'S, THIS MODERN-DAY ORGANIZATION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AIMS TO CAPTURE THAT SAME INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGING.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

A GRAND JURY REPORT LEAKED TO CBS NEWS.

MIAMI IS SHAKING UP FLORIDA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE JUST PRIOR TO THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION.

CBS NEWS, MIAMI SAYS ACCORDING TO THIS SEALED GRAND JURY REPORT, THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION MISSED APPROPRIATED 10 MILLION DOLLARS OF MEDICAID SETTLEMENT MONEY BUT NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO BRING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

CBS MIAMI REPORTS THE TAXPAYER MONEY WAS FUNNELED TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AND THEN USED TO HELP DEFEAT AN AMENDMENT ON THE 2024 BALLOT ABOUT LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN FLORIDA.

JOINING ME NOW TO BREAK DOWN THE REPORT'S FINDINGS.

>> AND EXPLORE WHAT THE POLITICAL FALLOUT HAS BEEN IS WGCU HOST AND REPORTER.

>> JOHN DAVIS AND JOHN, FIRST OF ALL, CAN YOU GIVE US EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND ON THIS RATHER COMPLICATED SUBJECT AND HELP US FOLLOW THE MONEY TRAIL, RIGHT?

SO THIS ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO 2021 WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT HEALTH CARE GIANT, 17.

>> HAD BEEN OVERBILLING.

FLORIDA AND MIKE, MORE THAN 20 OTHER STATES.

>> FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR FLORIDA.

THIS WAS THROUGH THE FLORIDA HEALTHY KIDS PROGRAM.

MOST OF THESE OTHER STATES QUICKLY WORKED WITH SEN TEAM TO HAMMER OUT A SETTLEMENTS AND GET THAT TAXPAYER MONEY RETURNED.

FLORIDA DID NOT DO ANYTHING WITH THIS UNTIL JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 2024 ELECTION.

SO FOR YEARS THEY EVEN IGNORED SEND TEAMS REQUESTS TO TRY TO JUST COME AND GET THEM BEHIND US AND GET THIS SETTLEMENT WORKED OUT.

FLORIDA'S SHARE WAS CALCULATED OUT TO BE ABOUT 67 MILLION DOLLARS THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION ALTERED THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND WOUND UP ONLY RETURNING 57 MILLION ABOUT TO FLORIDA TAXPAYERS AND AVERTING THE OTHER 10 MILLION TO THE FLORIDA HOPE CHARITY AND THAT'S THAT A CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THAT HIS WIFE FIRST LADY CASEY DESANTIS, IS THE PUBLIC FACE OF NUMBER.

THE REPORT EVEN FOUND THE GRAND JURY REPORT FOUND THAT SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE THE 10 MILLION WAS REQUIRED TO BE TRANSFERRED WITHIN 7 DAYS WHILE THE REST OF THE 57 MILLION DOLLARS THAN TEAM HAD A FULL YEAR TO PAY BACK.

PAY THAT BACK TO THE STATE AND THE MONEY WAS ON THE IN THE BANK ACCOUNT OF THE HOPE FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR LESS THAN A MONTH VAN.

IT WAS GIVEN IN TO 5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.

THOSE NONPROFITS COLLECTIVELY TRANSFERRED 8 AND A HALF MILLION TO A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

JAMES UTHMEIER AT THE TIME HE WAS RON DESANTIS IS CHIEF OF STAFF FROM AIR 7 MILLION WENT TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF FLORIDA.

1.2, 3 MILLION WENT TO ANOTHER POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY MEYER CALLED FLORIDA FREEDOM FUND.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS TAXPAYER MONEY WAS USED TO CAMPAIGNED HEAVILY AGAINST THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BALLOT AMENDMENT THAT WAS GOING TO GO BEFORE VOTERS IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

NOW DURING LAST YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, PENSACOLA, REPUBLICAN ALEX AND RODDY.

HE CHAIRED THIS STATE HOUSE HEALTH CARE SUBCOMMITTEE.

HE BEGAN INVEST BEST A GATING.

THE 17 SETTLEMENT BECAUSE HE WAS QUESTIONING WHY THE 10 MILLION DOLLARS WAS DIVERTED AND BASICALLY THE KIND OF ACCUSED OF MIERS AND OTHERS OF POTENTIAL WIRE FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING.

HE TURNED HIS FINDINGS OVER TO THE STATE ATTORNEY JEFF.

CAMPBELL'S OFFICE.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.

BUT CAM AND THE REPORT WAS RELEASED IN JANUARY.

SO IT IS KIND OF A COMPLICATED MONEY TRAIL >> AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

>> NOW, HOW IS THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF THIS SEALED REPORT?

HOW DOES THIS COME INTO PLAY WITH REGARDS TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION?

>> WELL, IT'S HAVING A HUGE IMPACT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE HIGH RANKING OFFICIALS NAMED IN THE GRAND JURY REPORT ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING PUBLIC OFFICE.

YOU HAVE ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES UTHMEIER WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THAT ROLE BY THE GOVERNOR.

HE'S NOW RUNNING TO KEEP HIS SEAT.

LIKEWISE, ASHLEY MOODY, WHO WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BEFORE US MEYER AND THEN APPOINTED TO THE SENATE BY GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

HE'S RUNNING TO KEEP THAT SEAT AND SHE'S FACING DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE NIXON AND THE U.S.

SENATE RACE AND WELL, THERE WAS ANOTHER PLAYER AND THIS AND THAT MOODY'S CHIEF DEPUTY IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OF THE TIME JOHN GUARD.

AND HE HAD BEEN NOMINATED BY TRUMP LAST YEAR TO A FEDERAL JUDGESHIP.

BUT THAT WAS HELD UP BY FLORIDA.

REPUBLICAN U.S.

SENATOR RICK SCOTT OVER THIS WHOLE ISSUE OF THE 10 MILLION DOLLARS GUARD WITHDREW FROM THAT NOMINATION.

BUT THEN DESANTIS APPOINTED HIM TO BE A JUDGE ON THE STATE'S SECOND DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL.

SO POLITICALLY, THE OPTICS AREN'T GREAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THIS ALL KIND OF GOT PROMOTIONS.

AND NOW AT LEAST 2 OF THEM ARE RUNNING TO KEEP THEIR POSITIONS.

>> AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT A WEEK NOW SINCE CBS, MIAMI FIRST BROKE THIS STORY AND RELEASED THE SEALED DOCUMENT.

HOW HOW THE REACTION HAS BEEN FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ON THIS SUBJECT.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL OUT MEYER AND SENATOR MOODY'S, DEMOCRATIC OPPONENTS HOVEY A HOT JOSE JAVIER RODRIGUEZ AND ANGIE NIXON RESPECTIVELY ISSUED A JOINT STATEMENT CALLING FOR THE INVESTIGATION TO BE REOPENED AND CALLING ON MOODY ENOUGH MEYER TO RESIGN.

RODRIGUEZ SAID, QUOTE, THIS MAY WELL BE THE MOST BRAZEN ACT OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION WE HAVE SEEN HERE IN FLORIDA.

NIXON ALSO CHIMED IN SAYING, QUOTE, THIS IS THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL OF WORKING FAMILIES.

NOW NEITHER OF MEYER NORM MOODY HAVE REALLY SUBSTANTIVELY RESPONDED TO ISSUES BROUGHT UP IN THE REPORT.

MOODY'S SAYS THIS NARRATIVE IS BEING MISCHARACTERIZED ON THE BASIS OF POLITICAL MOTIVATIONS.

SHE SAID SHE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW THE MONEY WOULD BE SPENT IN PLAYED NO ROLE AND HOW HOPE FLORIDA SPENT THE MONEY, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW HER CHIEF DEPUTY OF THE TIME RAISE THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SETTLEMENT WITH HER.

MY ARE LIKEWISE HAS CALLED THIS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED WITCH HUNT AND A HOAX.

HE'S EVEN THREATEN REPORTERS.

WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SITUATION, HE SUGGESTED A REPORTER COULD BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED BECAUSE ASKING HIM ABOUT HIS ACTIVITY AS IT CONCERNS THIS GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION COULD AMOUNT TO SOLICITING HIM TO VIOLATE THE LAW BY DISCUSSING GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS.

SO WAS IT THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN FLORIDA THREATENING THE PRESS OVER WHERE THIS HOW THIS MONEY WAS.

MISAPPROPRIATED AND OTHER RACES.

WE SEE THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, DAVID JOLLY SAYING HE'S OPEN TO REOPENING THE INVESTIGATION AND HELPING FIND SOMEONE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT BYRON DONALDS SAYS ENOUGH WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS, BUT HE IS INTERESTED EMBRACING THE GRAND JURY REPORTS.

RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED SOME LAWS TO TRY TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE U.S.

SENATOR RICK SCOTT WHO FROM THE BEGINNING HAS BEEN OPEN ABOUT HOW BAD HE THINKS THIS IS EVEN POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA BACK IN DECEMBER.

QUOTE, MILLIONS IN TAX DOLLARS FOR POOR KIDS HAVE NO BUSINESS FUNDING POLITICAL ADS.

SO OUTSIDE THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION EXCLUSIVELY, THIS IS REALLY GETTING CONDEMNATION FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

MORE TO COME ON THIS SCENE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JOHN DAVIS.

>> FOR MORE ON THE POLITICAL STORIES THAT ARE IMPACTING SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THE SHORT A VISIT, OUR WEBSITE AT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP, THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM IN GORDA GEARING UP FOR A SOLEMN TRIBUTE TO PAY RESPECTS.

AND REMEMBER, THOSE KILLED ON SEPTEMBER.

11TH, WE FIND OUT ABOUT A SPECIAL PROGRAM IN HONOR OF THE LEGACY LEFT AFTER THIS MONTH WILL MARK THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACK NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE DEADLIEST TERROR ATTACK IN AMERICAN HISTORY TO RECOGNIZE THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WERE CHANGED FOREVER.

THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM IN GORDA IS HOLDING A 9.11 COMMEMORATION CEREMONY.

FOR MORE ON THE SEPTEMBER 11TH COMMEMORATION CEREMONY.

I'M NOW JOINED BY ISAAC JAMES.

HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM IN GORDA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WHY ARE YOU HOSTING THIS EVENT?

>> SO THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM OF HOSTED AND A CEREMONY, 4TH, A 9.11, REMEMBRANCE 5 YEARS AGO ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND WE TEND TO DO IT EVERY 5 YEARS.

BUT IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY TO OUR MISSION BECAUSE IT OPEN THE DOOR TO OUR MILITARY HERITAGE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT ALSO WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO NOT ONLY JUST REMEMBER THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED, BUT ALSO TO BE THANKFUL FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIRE AND POLICE EMT'S MEDICS THAT WERE THERE THAT DAY AND THAT HAVE THAT ALSO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

>> YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST, SPEAKER.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION?

>> YES, SO WE HAVE A MARION KINETIC IS THE MOTHER OF MARIE RACE OP OR WHO WAS A PASSENGER ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT.

77.

FLEW INTO THE PENTAGON AND HER DAUGHTER WAS 35 YEARS OLD AND WAS UNABLE JAG OFFICER ON HER WAY TO LOS ANGELES TO START A NEW CAREER IN TEACHING GYMNASTICS, WHICH WAS REALLY HER DRINK AND UNFORTUNATELY, HER LIFE WAS CUT SHORT.

SO HER MOTHER, MARIAN WILL BE WITH US THAT MORNING TO TALK ABOUT HER DAUGHTER TO TALK ABOUT THAT DAY AND HOW WHAT IT MEANT TO THEIR FAMILY AND HOUSE.

THEY MAKE THEIR LIVES MOVING FORWARD.

>> THAT SOUNDS VERY TOUCHING.

IS SHE FROM SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> SHE IS.

I BELIEVE SHE'S A CAPE CORAL RESIDENT AND I WAS DOING A SEARCH LOOKING FOR SOME, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE TO HAVE A PERSONAL TOUCH TO OUR OUR RESIDENTS HERE IN GORDA.

THAT WARNING AND I FOUND HER AND BROUGHT HER STORY AND SAW THAT MARGARET WAS A WAS A NAVAL OFFICER AND JACK OR AND IT JUST IT FIT OR MISSION PERFECTLY.

>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO PUT THAT TIME?

THE EFFORT, THE ENERGY IN THE CEREMONIES LIKE THIS TO REMEMBER THE LIVES THAT WERE LOST THAT DAY.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PROUDEST THINGS THAT I THINK WE DO HERE AT THE MUSEUM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CEREMONIES EVERY YEAR WHETHER IT BE MEMORIAL DAY OR A VETERANS DAY, WE'RE VIETNAM ARE A NUMBER OF STATE OR 9.11 PATRIOTS STATE.

AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, TOO.

KEEP TELLING THE STORY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IT'S NOW AS I'M SPEAKING, WE HAVE A BUILDING FULL OF 5TH GRADERS FROM CHARLOTTE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT 9.11 WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT THE SACRIFICES THAT WERE GIVEN FOR LEARNING HISTORY.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

AND SO I THINK THIS IT REALLY BE PROVES US THAT THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM AS PART OF OUR MISSION.

TO TEACH THEM INTO PASSING ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS DATE CHANGED OUR ENTIRE NATION?

>> YOU KNOW, IT.

THERE'S VARIOUS OPINIONS OUT THERE AND THAT CAN AS A NONPROFIT, I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE OPINIONS OF IT.

BUT WHAT I WILL SAY.

>> IT GAVE US HERE AT THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUCH BROADER PERSPECTIVE.

OF THOSE THAT GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FAMILIES.

WE HAVE FAMILIES THAT COME THROUGH HERE AT THE MUSEUMS THAT THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS WITH HER BROTHER OR SISTER.

WERE KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

WE STILL HAVE LIVING VETERANS THAT ARE HERE AND IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, MANY OF THEM HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WHO WERE IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND ARE STILL GOING THROUGH HARDSHIPS ARE GOING THROUGH AND MENTAL NEEDS PTSD ISSUES WAS FOR HOME LOANS.

AND IT'S ONE THING THAT I REALLY CHARITY INHERIT.

A MUSEUM IS BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR THEM.

STANDING UP FOR THEM AND HELPING THEM DIRECTING THEM AND THE RIGHT.

A VENUE FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR WHATEVER HELP THEY NEED, WHETHER IT BE THE VA OR WHETHER MAY NEED TO BE SITTING DOWN WITH THE THERAPIST OF WAR TALKING THROUGH PTSD ISSUES WITH A HUSBAND, A WIFE OR EVEN KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.

SO IT REALLY HAS GIVEN A LOT TO A NONPROFIT LIKE US.

REALLY A LOT OF THE MISSION.

WE ARE VERY MISSION BASED AND I THINK IT FED SO MUCH INTO WHO WE ARE AS AS A MUSEUM, BUT NOT JUST A MUSEUM.

BUT AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY DOES ADVOCATE FOR VETERANS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH US TODAY.

ISAAC.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE MUSEUM CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE OF 9.11 >> PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AND MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM DOT ORG.

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH SAYS OVER ONE-MILLION UNITED STATES VETERANS ARE RECEIVING DISABILITY BECAUSE OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

NEARLY 30% OF ALL VETERANS FROM OPERATIONS, IRAQI FREEDOM AND ENDURING FREEDOM, NEEDING PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER, ACCELERATING RESEARCH AND THE FEDERAL REVIEW PROCESS FOR PSYCHEDELIC TREATMENTS.

THE GOAL TO ELIMINATE RED TAPE AND PROMOTE ACCESS TO THE DRUGS TO HELP VETERANS WGCUS TEDDY BYRNE HAS MORE.

>> SO FOR MORE ON THE MEDICAL USAGE OF PSYCHEDELIC DRUGS, I'M JOINED BY DOCTOR ALLEN DAVIS, AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR AT THE CENTER FOR PSYCHEDELIC DRUG RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND I THINK MANY PSYCHEDELICS HAVE THIS STIGMA OF THE WOODSTOCK GENERATION.

BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT PSYCHEDELICS ACTUALLY ARE AND HOW THEY WORK?

>> PSYCHEDELICS IS A LARGE CATEGORY OF SUBSTANCES THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE PSILOCYBIN OR MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND A LUSTY I BECAME ALL OF THESE SUBSTANCES HAVE DIFFERENT CONTEXT, ABUSE.

THEY AFFECT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT THEY'RE CONSIDERED PSYCHEDELICS BECAUSE THEY ALTER ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS IN A WAY THAT IT PROVIDES THEM DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES, DIFFERENT PERCEPTION OF EXPERIENCES IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

BUT ALSO DIFFERENT ABILITY TO CONNECT INWARD INTO THEIR THEIR EMOTIONAL STATE INTO THEIR THOUGHTS AND INTO THEIR BODIES THAT THAT MIGHT PROVIDE NEW GLIMPSES OF HOW TO WORK THROUGH DIFFERENT CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIFE, WHICH IS WHY WE THINK THEY MIGHT BE HELPFUL FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

>> SO THEN WHAT KIND OF PSYCHEDELICS ARE BEING USED FOR THESE MEDICAL PURPOSES?

I'M ASSUMING SOME OF THEM ARE NOT BEING TO MAYBE ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS.

>> CURRENTLY, MOST RESEARCHERS FOCUSED ON PSILOCYBIN AND MDMA, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE OTHER STUDIES THAT HAVE LOOKED INTO IT AGAIN AND OTHER PSYCHEDELICS.

BUT FIRST, LET'S LIVE IN AN NBA.

MAY.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN ACROSS DIFFERENT STUDIES IS THAT THEY BEEN HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE WITH THINGS LIKE DEPRESSION, PTSD, ANXIETY, EVEN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS.

WE JUST RECENTLY COMPLETED A TRIAL OF PSILOCYBIN THERAPY FOR VETERANS WITH SEVERE PTSD.

AND WE FOUND THAT 75% OF THOSE VETERANS WERE IN COMPLETE REMISSION AFTER THE TREATMENT WAS OVER, WHICH IS REMARKABLE.

AND IF IT'S EVER APPROVED, WOULD WOULD REALLY BRING THE POTENTIAL OF A NOVEL TREATMENT FOR THE CONDITION IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES.

>> HOW ARE THESE DRUGS USE THEM FOR THESE PROCEDURES IS A KIND OF SIMPLY A TRIAL AND ERROR OF KNOWING HIND OF THE VOLUME THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS WOULD NEED OR IS THERE MORE SPECIFIC MEASURES IN BEING ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE PSYCHEDELICS TO PATIENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF THEM?

>> SO ONE IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS TREATMENT IS IT'S ACTUALLY A PACKAGE OF THERAPY AND PSYCHEDELIC ADMINISTRATION.

SO THAT USUALLY UNFOLDS OVER 3 PHASES.

THE FIRST PHASE IS IS WHAT WE CALL PREPARATION THERAPY WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL MEET WITH 2 TRAINED THERAPIST TO BOTH DEVELOP THE TRUST AND REPORT, BUT ALSO TO LEARN SKILLS AND HOW TO MANAGE A PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE.

THE SECOND PHASE IS THE DRUG ADMINISTRATION TODAY WHERE THEY'RE THERE ON SITE WITH THOSE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THE ENTIRE TIME THAT THERE AND THE EFFECTS OF THE PSYCHEDELIC.

AND THEN AFTER THE DRUG ADMINISTRATION, WE MOVE INTO THE 3RD PHASE, WHICH WE CALL INTEGRATION THERAPY.

AND THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE TAKE WHATEVER THEY'VE LEARNED TO WHATEVER EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAD WITH THE PSYCHEDELIC.

AND THEY START TO FIND WAYS TO BUILD THAT INTO THEIR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE.

FOR SOMEONE WITH TRAUMA THAT COULD HAVE INCLUDED REVISITING THOSE TRAUMATIC MEMORIES HAVING EMOTIONALLY CATHARTIC EXPERIENCE IS LEARNING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIFE IN A NEW WAY.

AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THE THERAPISTS HELP THEM TO BRING THAT FORWARD INTO A MEANINGFUL WAY EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> PASS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LIFTING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS THAT ALLOW FOR A BETTER PROCESS SEEING OF RESEARCH AND SHARED STUDIES ON THINGS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS MOSTLY ON ON PSILOCYBIN.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE GOVERNMENT GETTING INVOLVED IN LIFTING THESE RESTRICTIONS, HOW MUCH DOES THAT HELP BEING ABLE TO SHARE RESOURCES WITH MAYBE OTHER RESEARCH FACILITIES TO HELP GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE PSYCHEDELICS ARE HELPING WITH THESE TREATMENT ISSUES.

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER REALLY DOES IS IT HELPS POSITION THESE TREATMENTS AND A NEW LIGHT FROM THE FEDERAL STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, FOR DECADES THESE SUBSTANCES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL FEDERALLY AND THAT HAS INFLUENCED PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION OF THEM AND THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF THE DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

BUT WHAT THE SCIENCE HAS SHOWN OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES IS THAT THOSE RISKS ARE VERY MINIMAL.

THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE VERY MINIMAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND SECURE SETTINGS.

BUT EVEN OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEY HAVE VERY LOW IF ANY ADDICTION POTENTIAL AND OFTEN ASSUMING THAT PEOPLE ARE PREPARED APPROPRIATELY FOR THE EXPERIENCES, THEY ACTUALLY BRING ABOUT THESE POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC SO WE KNOW NOW FAIRLY CONFIDENTLY THAT UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS, PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY GOING TO BE SAFE IF THEY USE THEM THAT THE RISKS THAT ARE INVOLVED IS WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO ACCESS.

THE LOOKS OUTSIDE OF THESE MEDICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND WITH OUT TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THEN IS THERE HOPE THAT MAYBE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN WORKING WELL WITH ANXIETY DEPRESSION, PTSD, ESPECIALLY THAT IT CAN BE USED.

THEN ON FUTURE TREATMENTS MAY BE FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN NEED, ESPECIALLY THOSE DEALING WITH CHRONIC PAIN ISSUES.

>> YES, AND THAT THERE'S CURRENTLY TRIALS UNDERWAY FOR CONDITIONS LIKE FIBROMYALGIA POST, PARTUM DEPRESSION, OTHER TYPES HEADACHE AND PAIN DISORDERS.

SO THERE'S QUITE POSSIBLY GOING TO BE AN EMERGENCE OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT INDICATIONS THAT PSYCHEDELICS MIGHT BE BEST ABLE TO TREAT.

THERE'S EVEN SOME INTEREST IN LOOKING AT SECOND LOOK THERAPY FOR TREATING SUICIDE OUT, WITTY AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE.

SO I REALLY DO THINK THAT THIS THIS OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE WITH PSYCHEDELICS, MY CATALYZE A A WAVE OF OPPORTUNITY TO TREAT PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH IN A WAY THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SOUNDS EXTREMELY INTERESTING.

AND B, INTERESTING TO FOLLOW AS THIS CONTINUES MOVING FORWARD.

SO DR.

ALAN DAVIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, 6 DECADES FOLLOWING THE MARCH ON DC ANOTHER GATHERING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA RECOGNIZES THE FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS AND STRIVE TO KEEP THOSE EFFORTS MOVING FOR IT WAS 63 YEARS AGO WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS DESCENDED ON THE NATION'S CAPITAL TO FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS RECENTLY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THAT HISTORIC MARCH.

PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE GATHERED IN FORT MYERS AT THE RALLY OF HOPE WTC IS KERRY.

BARBARA HAS MORE.

>> NEARLY 300 PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE MOUNT OLIVE AM E CHURCH IN FORT MYERS ON SATURDAY.

LAWMAKERS, SPIRITUAL LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FROM AROUND THE STATE APPEARED IN PERSON AND BY VIDEO TO ENCOURAGE SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CIVICS PROCESS, REGISTER TO VOTE, HELP NEIGHBORS GET TO THE POLLS AND SUPPORT CIVIL RIGHTS AND THEIR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN.

THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY WERE THERE, INCLUDING MADDY, SHOEMAKER, YOUNG, HER MOTHER.

VERONICA SHOEMAKER WAS THE FIRST BLACK MEMBER OF THE FORT MYERS CITY COUNCIL.

MOUNT OLIVE SITS ON VERONICA SHOEMAKER BOULEVARD.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MY MOM WANTED IT.

>> THE BOULEVARD TO DO WAS TO BRING US TOGETHER.

>> AND HERE IT IS IN REAL LIFE.

IT'S UNITING US FROM THE NOR TO THE SOUTH AS WELL AS IT'S BRINGING U.S.

EAST AND WEST.

WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER, UNITED AS ONE.

WE'RE READY TO FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT WE GET THE VOTE OUT.

AND IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT WHAT OUR FOREFATHERS TIER, BUT NOW IT'S ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

>> THE DATE FOR THE EVENT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

A DAY AFTER THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1963 MARCH ON WASHINGTON WHICH FOSTERED THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT.

ORGANIZERS SAY THEY WERE INSPIRED BY HOW ORDINARY CITIZENS CAME TOGETHER ON THAT DAY TO SHAPE THEIR COUNTRY AND THEY HOPE TO DO THE SAME IN 2026, AS THEY SAY, THESE RIGHTS ARE BEING ERODED.

REFORM CAN BEGIN WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

ACCORDING TO THE FIRST AND ONLY BLACK LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MELVIN MORGAN.

AND I JUST FEEL IF YOU GO ON A RUN FOR AN OFFICE, HOW MUCH YOU KNOW WHO IT IS FROM THE PRESIDENT ON DOWN >> TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT WHERE TO GO.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO END UP TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE DAD.

PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE, MEDIA.

>> REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS WERE ON HAND TO HELP PEOPLE REGISTER TO VOTE.

RAMAN.

TIME IN A FORT MYERS LEFT THE EVENT INSPIRED TO WORK FOR HIS COMMUNITY.

>> YES, I WANT TO IT'S SAID TO DISCRIMINATE G 2, ACCORDING TO NEW TO FIGHT IN ARE GOING TO BE MORE DIVERSE AND FORMED THE SITUATION IN WHICH THEY ARE BEING.

WE WANT TO RESTORE OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> FLORIDIANS FOR DEMOCRACY IS A FINANCIAL SUPPORTER OF WGCU WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY AMANDA INSCORE WHITTAMORE.

I'M CARY BARBOR.

>> HERE'S MORE FROM THE ORIGINAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON, D.C., THAT TOOK PLACE ON AUGUST.

28TH 1963, ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, MORE THAN 250,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.

THE MARCH ITSELF IS PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING'S.

I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH A YEAR AFTER THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PASS THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT IN 1964.

AND THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT IN 1965.

WE HAVE SOME HISTORY IN THE MAKING TO LEAVE YOU WITH AS NASA'S NANCY GRACE ROMAN SPACE TELESCOPE LIFTED OFF ABOARD A SPACEX FALCON ROCKET.

IT HAPPENED RIGHT HERE IN OUR STATE WITH THE LAUNCH FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

THE TELESCOPE IS NAMED AFTER NASA'S FIRST CHIEF ASTRONOMER.

COMPARE THIS TO THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE.

ROMAN HAS A 300 MEGAPIXEL INFRARED CAMERA.

THAT MEANS IT HAS A FIELD OF VIEW 100 TIMES LARGER THAN THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE.

ROMANS TASK IS TO HELP ASTRONOMERS EXPLORE MYSTERIOUS, DARK MATTER AND DARK ENERGY.

NASA HOPES TO SEE THOSE FIRST IMAGES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM, BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS.

MEET THE INAUGURAL STUDENTS OF THE HEIGHTS, CAREER TECH INSTITUTE AS THEY BEGIN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CALLING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.