A Connecticut legislative committee recently approved a measure to decriminalize possessing small amounts of magic mushrooms. The legislation reclassifies the possession of up to half an ounce of psilocybin mushrooms as a civil infraction with a $150 fine. Repeat offenders would be charged higher fines ranging from $200 to $500, and those who were convicted three times for psilocybin possession would be directed to a drug-education program.
Joint Committee on Judiciary cochair Representative Steven Stafstrom said that although the measure does not legalize psilocybin outright or allow for therapeutic and recreational use, the legislation acknowledges the fact that psilocybin possession shouldn’t be considered a high-level misdemeanor. Connecticut currently classifies psilocybin possession as a class A misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2,000 and up to a year in jail. Stafstrom said the bill recognizes that psilocybin possession shouldn’t be treated like a heroin or fentanyl possession, especially since the psychedelic has plenty of medical potential.
Before advancing in a 26 to 11 vote, HB 6754 had to overcome concerns from Republicans who feared that permissive psilocybin policies might send the wrong message to youth. Senator John Kissell noted that younger generations don’t seem overly interested in “outside substances,” as his his generation was back in the 1970s. Although Kissell opposes broad recreational cannabis legalization, he supports medical cannabis and is also okay with state lawmakers passing measures that allow the medical use of psilocybin.
However, while he said that the psychedelic has “medical utilizations” and understands that people shouldn’t face the risk of jail time for simple possession, he simply didn’t have enough information regarding psilocybin “as a public policy.” For starters, Kissell said that he would like to know more about psilocybin’s interactions with marijuana and alcohol to inform his opinion on traffic safety. He mentioned that there are currently no reliable tests to check for psilocybin impairment at traffic stops, an issue that also affects America’s state-legal cannabis industry.
Stafstrom clarified that the measure wouldn’t amend Connecticut’s DUI laws in any way and said that trained police officers would be tasked with identifying whether drivers were impaired. Additionally, law enforcement could obtain blood or urine samples from drivers if they had probable cause. He added that the legislation also wouldn’t adjust or change the state’s penalties for producing, trafficking and selling psilocybin and related paraphernalia, with only possession being decriminalized.
Stafstrom also noted that some of his constituents already use psilocybin mushrooms to address end-of-life issues, PTSD, psilocybin pain and other medical issues.
The therapeutic potential of psychedelics has drawn the attention of startups such as Field Trip Health Ltd. (OTC: FTHWF) (TSX: FTHW), which are now undertaking R&D programs aimed at commercializing medicines from these substances.
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