HARTFORD, CT – A bill that would have decriminalized small amounts of psilocybin – the active substance in hallucinogenic mushrooms – died Thursday in the Transportation Committee.
The legislation, House Bill 5297, was referred to the Transportation Committee from the House after it passed through the Judiciary Committee on a 24-13 vote.
Committee co-chair Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, said Thursday that the bill is dead, but the concepts in it could be attached to other legislation.
Lemar said that the bill was sent back to the Transportation Committee because of a provision in the bill that said a person could have their driver’s license suspended if they were to be pulled over while under the influence of psilocybin.
The provision requires a 60-day suspension of the driver’s license for anyone under age 21 who is convicted of possessing small amounts of psilocybin or is under the influence while operating a vehicle.
Lemar said Democrats received word from the Republican caucus that they were planning to “run out the clock” on the bill with amendments and filibustering.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he wouldn’t want to see the bill go through.
“I hate the bill. I was on that early,” Candelora said, adding that he thinks continually decriminalizing “illicit” drugs is bad for Connecticut.
The current penalty for possessing small amounts of the hallucinogenic mushrooms is $2,000 and up to five years in prison.
The bill would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of psilocybin, reducing the penalty for first-time offenders to a $150 infraction, with fines for subsequent charges ranging between $200-500.
