Maine’s House of Representatives narrowly voted to decriminalize the possession of one ounce or less of psilocybin for persons 21 years of age or older on Monday evening. Better known as the active agent in psychedelic mushrooms, psilocybin has been argued in recent years to have therapeutic applications in mental health treatment.
The fate of bill in question, LD 1034, was in doubt until Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) changed his vote in favor of it before voting closed. It passed 70-69.
The bill was sponsored by Representative Grayson Lookner (D-Portland). Rep. Lookner gave a speech in support of his bill highlighting the therapeutic benefits of Psylocibin for veterans who, ‘bearing the hidden wounds of war’.
LD 1034 “An Act to Decriminalize Personal Possession of Therapeutic Amounts of Psilocybin for Adults” was sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. The bill had its public hearing in the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee. There the committee voted out three reports for the bill. The ‘Ought to Pass – B’ report was the one moved on the floor and passed by the House. It was a minority report of the committee.
Psylocibin is a naturally occurring substance found in over 200 species of mushrooms. The psycho-active effect of these mushrooms in the proper dosage may help veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), medical professionals have argued. This may be why Representatives Quentin Chapman (R-Auburn), and John Eder (R-Waterboro) cosponsored the bill.
Republican Representative David Boyer (R-Poland) was also a cosponsor, and he has been a longtime advocate for the decriminalization of cannabis.
One Democrat representative who is also a physician voted against the legalizing measure though. When Rep. Sam Zager (D-Portland) voted ‘no,’ that prompted Speaker Fecteau to change his vote in favor of the bill.
“Representative Zager contemplated his vote and then voted no. The Speaker then took his vote off the board and about a half a minute and changed his vote to a yes for the bill, and it passed it by one. And the Democrats started clapping and cheering. Then Fecteau brought the hammer down and told us to be in order.” said Representative Barbara Bagshaw (R-Windham) said.
Democrat cosponsors included Senator Donna Bailey (D-York), who had a similar bill that failed last session, and Senator Craig Hickman, who also serves as the Chair of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, signed his name to the legislation in support. Sen. Hickman, in addition to Rep Boyer, has also been an outspoken advocate for cannabis decriminalization in previous legislative sessions. Assistant Majority Leader Lori Grahmlich (D-Old Orchard Beach), Representative Nina Milliken (D-Blue Hill) and Representative Cassie Julia (D-Waterville) rounded out the list of cosponsors of LD 1034.
The bill now heads to the Senate for debate and a preliminary vote. That vote in the Senate may come as early as Tuesday morning.
