A vendor bags psilocybin mushrooms at a cannabis marketplace on May 24, 2019, in Los Angeles.
State Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the legislative Transportation Committee.
HARTFORD —The legislative Transportation Committee on Thursday declined to vote on, or even discuss legislation that would decriminalize small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms, essentially ending efforts by advocates who wanted to utilize the psychotrophic qualities of the drug to help people with PTSD, depression and other ailments.
The bill died without being taken up by the committee, which met before the day's House session and quickly recessed. Committees have five days to act on referrals or legislation can expire.
"There were some concerns related to the kind of message we're sending to drivers," said Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the Transportation Committee. "Seeing the wake of drunken-driving incidents across the state; the rise of folks who've been high while driving. The type of messaging we wanted to send from the Transportation Committee was we didn't think it was appropriate for us to be weighing in on this issue at this point in time."
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The bill was the subject of a recent public hearing and positive vote in the Judiciary Committee. It could come up as an amendment in other legislation before the midnight May 8 adjournment of the General Assembly, but it's less likely with Thursday's rejection.
Rep. Kathy Kennedy of Milford, a ranking Republican on the Transportation Committee, said that while the drug has been found to help veterans and others, amid the issues of road safety that the committee focuses on, it makes less sense. She said that the bill might have a better chance next year in the long, early January until early June session.
The bill would have made it an infraction with fines of $100 to people caught found by law enforcement authorities to possess half an ounce or less of psilocybin mushrooms.
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Earlier in the week, the budget-writing Appropriations Committee killed seven bills with financial implications by abruptly ending its meeting.
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Legalizing psilocybin mushrooms in Connecticut appears unlikely this year – New Haven Register
