Psychedelics Reform Update: Connecticut’s Decriminalization, Vermont Hearings, Arizona’s Psilocybin Services & More
State-level psychedelics policy reform is moving fast throughout the U.S. Below is a recap of February 2024 moves.
Connecticut: Democrat-led HB5297 would decriminalize possession of less than 1.5 ounces of psilocybin. Formerly a class A misdemeanor, the first offense would now imply a $150 fine, and a subsequent one shall begin at $200 and run over $500.
Introduced in the House on February 26, the joint committee on Judiciary will next hold a public hearing on the bill on March 6. If approved by Senate and House, the measure would become effective by October 1, 2024.
Vermont: On February 14, lawmakers held a hearing in the Senate’s Health and Welfare Committee on S114, a 2023-introduced measure that calls for the removal of criminal penalties for possessing, dispensing, or selling psilocybin and the establishment of the state’s Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group. The Senate committee took testimony on February 29.
Arizona: Near 100% Republican SB1570 laying the foundational regulations for lawful psilocybin therapy services is moving steadily through the legislature. Since its introduction in the Senate on Feb. 5, 2024, the legislation was read a total of three times in the chamber and was finally approved and sent to the House for consideration on February 29.
Separately, GOP-led HB2274 providing firefighters and certified peace officers diagnosed with PTSD with workers compensation coverage including MDMA-assisted therapy also moved fast: first introduction in House on Jan. 16, the measure faced three readings and finally passed the chamber on Feb. 22 when, sent to Senate, it was read for a first time and assigned to the Rules committee. Companion bill SB1677 passed the Senate’s majority and minority caucuses on Feb. 27.
Maine: First introduced in 2023’s first special session, LD 1914 calls for the implementation of the Maine Psilocybin Health Access Act, which would effectively create a regulated framework for the provision of psilocybin therapy in service centers.
The legislation was tabled three times this year (Jan. 24, Feb. 21 and finally Feb. 28) in a discussion held at the joint committee, after being carried over from the past year’s legislative discussion to the present one.
Missouri: SB786 legalizing the medical use of psilocybin in the state and mandating clinical trials -supportive state grants included- exploring the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic passed the Senate’s Emerging Issues committee on Feb. 28, after a hearing on Feb. 6, with new amendments (see Marijuana Moment’s report.)
The bill’s House counterpart, HB1830, faced a hearing on the Veterans committee Jan. 30, where it still sits.
Utah: Large medical amendments bill SB266 would create a controlled investigational drugs pilot program involving Intermountain Healthcare and University of Utah Health. The bill’s sponsor Sen. Kirk Cullimore confirmed that psilocybin or MDMA “are the drugs being contemplated” in the proposal. The bill passed the Senate floor on Feb. 26 and has already been read twice in the House. It now stands in the chamber’s Rules committee.
New Jersey: Introduced Feb. 22, Democrat-led AB3852 or …