Maine lawmakers have made progress on a bill aimed at legalizing low-level psilocybin possession for adults. However, there are significant calls from some members to amend the bill to establish an advisory commission instead, which would study the issue further.
On Wednesday, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee of the Maine legislature discussed the psilocybin proposal introduced by Rep. Grayson Lookner (D). The committee reported the bill out with a divided opinion, sending it to the floor for further consideration despite disagreements among its members. Four members supported the bill in its original form, while five members favored an amended version that would eliminate the primary legalization provisions. Additionally, four members voted against the bill altogether.
The bill, known as LD 1034, seeks to change state laws regarding scheduled drugs by allowing adults aged 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of psilocybin. Importantly, the legislation does not include provisions for the production, distribution, or commercial sale of psilocybin. It specifically aims to decriminalize possession of the substance itself, rather than the mushrooms that produce it.
According to the fiscal note associated with the legislation, the state would not face additional costs. In fact, the reform could lead to a minor reduction in the workload for the court system due to fewer cases related to psilocybin possession.
The proposal has garnered support from organizations such as the ACLU of Maine and the Reason Foundation, both of which provided testimony favoring LD 1034 during an initial hearing earlier this month. As the bill progresses to the full legislature, it is likely that lawmakers will consider the amended version that received a plurality of votes in committee. This version calls for further study of psilocybin legalization and recommendations for future legislative actions.
This latest effort follows an initiative from last year in Maine to legalize psilocybin and allow adults to access it at state-licensed facilities. However, that bill was ultimately diluted to create a commission for further exploration, and it did not pass.
Marijuana Moment continues to track numerous cannabis and psychedelics policy bills across state legislatures and Congress this year.
