CT News Junkie Reports
Header Image: Rep. Steve Stafstrom, a Bridgeport Democrat
Connecticut lawmakers are considering another push to decriminalize psilocybin — a psychedelic substance often called magic mushrooms — after a similar bill stalled late in last year’s legislative process amid skepticism from Gov. Ned Lamont.
In 2023, the legislature’s Judiciary Committee advanced a bill that would have made possession of less than a half ounce of psilocybin a ticketable offense, punishable by a $150 fine on the first offense with greater fines and drug education programs on subsequent offenses.
The bill made considerable progress. The House of Representatives approved the proposal on an 86-64 vote with the support of a majority of Democrats and two Republicans. However, it was never raised for a final vote in the Senate, where it expired at the end of last year’s session.
Bolstered by a growing body of research suggesting that controlled dosages of psychedelic substances can aid in the mitigation of hard-to-treat mental health conditions, proponents hope to make another attempt at decriminalizing the drug during the legislative session that begins on Feb. 7.
Rep. Steve Stafstrom, a Bridgeport Democrat who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee, said the panel would consider the bill again this year.
“I certainly plan to reintroduce it this year and look forward to a public hearing before the committee,” Stafstrom said Monday. “There’s a lot of benefits to decriminalizing and I’m hoping to committee will be receptive to it again this year.”
Connecticut Lawmakers Weigh Another Bill to Decriminalize Small Amounts of Psilocybin