The Maine House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee has voted to advance legislation that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of psilocybin, moving the proposal to the full House for consideration.
Dried psilocybin.
House Bill 1034, introduced by a bipartisan group of nine lawmakers from both chambers, would remove criminal penalties for adults 21 and older who possess up to one gram of psilocybin or one ounce of psilocybin-containing mushrooms. The measure does not create a regulated system for distribution or therapeutic access, but instead focuses on eliminating criminal consequences for possessing personal-use quantities.
Supporters of the bill point to a growing body of research suggesting psilocybin may hold mental health benefits, particularly in treating conditions such as depression and PTSD. The legislation reflects a national trend of easing restrictions on psychedelics, with Oregon and Colorado already implementing broader psilocybin reform and several cities across the U.S. adopting decriminalization policies. Some states, like New Mexico, are working to establish medical psilocybin programs.
The proposal follows Maine’s broader shift toward drug policy reform, including the legalization of recreational marijuana in 2016.
The full text of HB 1034 can be found here.
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