Maine legislators have reversed their course, rejecting a bill that would legalize the possession of up one ounce of Psilocybin for people over 21.
After a unanimous vote by the House of 72 to 74, on Monday the Senate also backed the House’s decision.
The bill (LD1034) would have not authorized, regulated, or regulated the production, distribution, or commercial sale of psychedelic substances.
Earlier this year, a Committee had attempted to amend the original proposal to require instead the creation a ‘Commission to Study Pathways for Creating a Psilocybin Program. But the bill was approved first by both chambers, in its originally-introduced format, prior to the enactment voting.
Lookner said that the bill was “a matter compassion, justice and common sense” before it passed in last week’s House votes.
The law is unjust, irrational, and persists because of an outdated stigma. “We now have the opportunity to ease profound suffering in our veteran population, especially those who are still bearing invisible war wounds,” said Mr. O’Neill.
This bill will simply decriminalize the possession of psilocybin by adults over 21. The bill does not allow for sales. The sponsor said that it does not create a recreational market. The bill simply states that adults who possess the substance for their own personal use should not have to worry about arrests, prison time, nor criminal records.
Scott Cyrway said Tuesday on the Senate Floor that he “knows the dangers of these drugs as a career police officer.”
“I am afraid to think what could happen if the bill is passed. It decriminalizes drug use without considering a public safety plan,” said he. “Despite its title, which claims that a therapeutic dose is legalized, this bill has nothing to do with medicinal drug usage.”
“Why should we encourage anyone to buy a substance, no matter where they live, that blurs the distinction between fake and real, and can change the way the brain functions?” Senator asked.
No discussion took place on the House Floor when the body had rejected the measure the day prior.
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The proposal as originally filed had support from advocacy groups such as ACLU of Maine and the Reason Foundation, which both submitted testimony in favor of LD 1034 at an initial hearing.
The advancement of the measure follows a separate effort in Maine last year to legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access the psychedelic at state-licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—amending it to create a commission to further explore the reform instead—and it ultimately did not pass.
Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers in February voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest by a top marijuana official.
And last year, a law took effect allowing people to apply to have records of now-legal marijuana crimes sealed.
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