Maine lawmakers have advanced a bill that would effectively legalize low-level psilocybin possession for adults—but some are pushing to significantly amend the proposal to simply create an advisory commission that would study the issue.
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee of the Legislature took up Rep. Grayson Lookner’s (D) psychedelics bill on Wednesday. It ultimately reported it with a divided committee report and sent it to the floor for consideration, despite differences among the members.
Four members of the House voted on the draft bill, while five others voted to approve an amended version, which removed the key legalization provisions. The remaining four members gave a recommendation that it “ought to not pass”.
LD 1034, as it was introduced, would amend the laws of California regarding possession of schedule drugs. It creates a special exception for people over 21 who possess up to an ounce of psilocybin. This bill would neither authorize nor regulate the production, distribution, or commercial sale of psilocybin.
The current law would not penalize anyone for possessing up to an ounce of the substance itself, but the mushroom that produces it.
In its fiscal note, the state says that reforming the system will not cost the government any money. Instead, it may lead to a “minor reduction in workload due to the reduced number of court cases.”
The ACLU of Maine, Reason Foundation and other groups have all endorsed the proposal at an initial hearing held earlier in this month.
It is expected that, when it reaches the legislative floor for consideration, legislators will examine the revised version of the proposal which received the majority vote in the committee. This proposed amendment requires a further study on psilocybin’s legalization.
The move follows an effort made in Maine to allow adult access to psilocybin at facilities licensed by the state. But lawmakers watered down that bill—amending it to create a commission to further explore the reform instead—and it ultimately did not pass.
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Meanwhile, 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.
Missouri House Committee unanimously approves bill to create Psychedelic Assisted Therapy Pilot Program
Dick Culbert provided the photo.
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