HARTFORD, CT – As cannabis has become decriminalized across the country, including in Connecticut, there’s a new movement to push to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms. The legislature is debating a bill that would reduce the penalty for possessing less than one-half ounce of psilocybin to a fine.
For a first offense, the fine would be $150, and subsequent offenses would carry a fine between $200 to $500. Currently, possession of any amount of psilocybin is considered a felony where a first offense carries up to a five-year prison term and a fine of up to $2,000. Subsequent offenses under current law can lead to up to 10 years of imprisonment, and a fine up to $5,000.
Psilocybin is the compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, sometimes known as magic mushrooms. It has psychedelic effects which include feelings of euphoria, visual and auditory hallucinations, changes in perception of time and space, and perceived spiritual experiences. It has also been known to induce nausea, panic attacks and in rare cases, psychosis.
Rep. Tracy Marra, R-Norwalk, opened the testimony on the bill by raising concerns about the ability of the state to regulate psilocybin.
“This legislature has previously ventured into legalizing federally illegal substances, such as cannabis, which is a trend that really should not continue. The state of Connecticut really lacks the resources to assess and regulate psilocybin effectively. This is a role better suited for the [Food and Drug Administration], which is already engaged in this task,” she said.
Marra did not completely dismiss the potential benefits of psilocybin, but she made it clear that she felt the state should not take the lead on decriminalization.
“Psilocybin really could offer some very promising outcomes under controlled measures,” she said, “but premature decriminalization can convey to the residents of Connecticut that it is safe for casual use, which is misleading based on current knowledge.”
Victor Constanza, founder of CT for Accessible Psychedelic Medicine, shared his personal story as he urged the committee to decriminalize psilocybin.
“I’ve suffered with PTSD, alcohol abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder. They’ve destroyed my life. There have been moments in my life when I’ve had nothing.because of my mental health disorders. I was at the point of relapse again last July and I was told about the idea of psilocybin,” he said.
“I’ve done everything, by the way. I’ve done intensive outpatient programs. I’ve done Vivitrol, which is the medicine used to get rid of alcohol cravings. But I was at my wit’s end because nothing was working. So I tried psilocybin, and I received instant relief that same day. I still have near zero depressional symptoms, and I haven’t had any cravings for alcohol. My life has a much better outlook than it has before.”
The members of the committee were curious about the effects, potential benefits and drawbacks of psilocybin, if noticeably incredulous at times.
Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, asked about the effects of psilocybin on motor skills and the potential impacts of impairment on the job. But his most pointed line of questioning came as he considered the juxtaposition of state and federal law should the drug be decriminalized, as the drug is still illegal at the federal level.
“We would, if we were to pass this law, be saying to individuals, you have to acquire this substance illegally. When I got sworn in here in 2016, I took an oath to the state and federal Constitutions. Under the Supremacy Clause, federal law trumps state law. So how am I, without violating my oath, possibly supporting this if it’s in violation of federal law?” he asked.
Erin Doolittle, director of education for CT for Accessible Psychedelic Medicine and a licensed marriage and family therapist, described the “miracles” she’s seen from her patients who have tried psilocybin.
“It really is 10 years of therapy in about three and a half to four hours,” she said in an interview. “I’ve seen people who struggle with addiction to alcohol and even nicotine who don’t have any cravings after their treatment. Their depression is significantly better, and I’ve seen years of trauma just fall off, and patients find that they are able to speak freely and to improve the quality of their life dramatically.”
Psilocybin has been used by humans for thousands of years, with evidence suggesting that its use even predates recorded history. The drug was legal in the United States until it was banned in 1970 as part of the overall War on Drugs. This ban went into effect despite research that showed multiple positive effects of psilocybin.
The legislature has debated the bill in the past and it made it through the House, but never came up for a vote in the Senate.
