Victor Constanza of Stamford, an advocate for the decriminalization of psilocybin mushrooms, testified on pending legislation Wednesday before the Judiciary Committee.
Psilocybin mushrooms valued at $8.5 million were seized by Connecticut State Police last year in a raid on a Burlington residence. There is poending legislation in the General Assembly that would decriminalize small amounts of the drug.
HARTFORD — Republican lawmakers on Wednesday pushed back against advocates who want to decriminalize small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms for personal use.
But for Victor Constanza, 27, of Stamford, dosing with so-called "magic mushrooms" over the last year has drastically changed his life and helped him battle an eight-year-long bout with alcoholism and PTSD that resulted in numerous hospitalizations.
"A very common analogy is it's like 10 years of therapy in five hours," Constanza told the General Assembly's Judiciary Committee in support of a bill that would reduce criminal penalties to an infraction, punishable by $150 fines for a first-time offense of possession of a half ounce of psilocybin. "I came out feeling like a different person, like I'm ready to take on the world, I'm not afraid of anything. For the first time in my life it brought me clarity and brought me some forgiveness. When it ends, it's like wow, everything is going to be alright. It helps you become a better person. It changes your mind."
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Constanza said the pending legislation should include provisions for possession limits of up to an ounce of mushrooms; allow people to grow their own, and to be able to give them away. Advocates in Massachusetts are planning a statewide ballot question in November on decriminalizing psilocybin, while it is legal in Oregon and in Colorado to possess and grow psilocybin mushrooms.
"It's an intense trip, yes," Constanza said. "But it was instant relief. I haven't any cravings for alcohol. My life has a better outlook than before." He said that while so-called microdosing — the ingestion of half a milligram or less — does not affect people who want to work or drive, higher amounts, such as a 2.5-milligram dose, would necessitate staying put with a companion not experiencing the psychotropic effects of the drug.
Under questioning from state Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, Constanza admitted that impaired users should not drive. "It depends on how much you're using," Constanza said, stressing that many people just take small doses to take advantage of its anti-depressant side effects. "You're not high, per se."
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Rep. Craig Fishbein of Wallingford, a top Republican on the committee, asked that if the legislature were to decriminalize possession, would people have to procure psilocybin by illegal means? Constanzo said yes, "Because that's the only way."
"I would fully admit I have no idea about this substance," said veteran Rep. Tom O'Dea, R-New Canaan, who in recent years, like Howard and Fishbein, opposed the state's legalization of cannabis.
Prior to Constanza's appearance, first-term state Rep. Tracy Marra, R-Darien, said that the bill, which has been introduced and failed in recent years, said that while initial testing has found doses of the drug to be effective therapy in some patients, federal studies are a year away or longer, and the General Assembly should hold off on decriminalizing.
"The state of Connecticut really lacks the resources to regulate psilocybin effectively," said Marra, a pharmacist. "This is a role for the FDA, which is already engaged in this task. Self dosing raises concerns, particularly within an unregulated market. It is imperative we let research and development and pharmaceutical companies continue to do their comprehensive due diligence on psilocybin and that thorough time-intensive FDA approval processes assures safety and effectiveness of medications for consumers."
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State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the committee, asked whether Marra had followed the statewide task force that looked into the issue and issued a report on the issue. Marra said she had not read the report.
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CT lawmakers push back against advocates for 'magic mushroom' – CT Insider
