Legislation to establish a psilocybin task force has been overwhelmingly approved by Maine’s full Senate.
Dried psilocybin mushrooms. (Photo credit: Rich Townsend/Getty Images).
As filed, Senate Bill 1914 would have legalized the medical use of psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in “magic mushrooms”. The measure was amended in committee to instead establish a “Commission To Study Pathways For Creating a Psilocybin Services Program in Maine”. Today, the bill was approved through the full Senate by a vote of 23 to six, with six members absent.
SB 1914 now heads to the state’s House of Representatives, with passage in that chamber putting the measure on the desk of Governor Janet Mills.
The task force setup under the proposal could study psychedelics including but “not limited to psilocybin”, although psilocybin will likely be the primary focus.
The task force would be tasked with designing a “long-term strategic plan for ensuring that psilocybin services will become and remain a safe, accessible, and affordable therapeutic option for all persons who are 21 years of age or older and for whom psilocybin services may be appropriate”, and they would be required to “advise and make recommendations to the legislature regarding a legal framework for the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs.”
The task force would be required to submit a report to the legislature by November 6, 2024.
In Maine, although psilocybin is illegal for all purposes, recreational marijuana was legalized in 2016, allowing those 21 and older to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow up to six plants for personal use.
