The Maine House and Senate approved legislation to study psilocybin, hallucinogenic mushrooms that many believe helps with post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical challenges.
The study committee, which will need to be funded before it can move forward, comes from a bill that initially sought to direct the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to create regulations that would allow physicians to recommend its use at designated facilities for those who are 21 and older.
It was modeled on laws in Colorado and Oregon, where the substance has been legalized, bill sponsor Sen. Donna Bailey (D-Saco), said during a public hearing on the bill last year.
She said psilocybin helps those with substance-use disorder and those who are addicted to nicotine and alcohol.
The bill has now been modified to “Establish the Commission to Study Pathways for Creating a Psilocybin Services Program in Maine.”
The commission will be charged with reviewing studies about the safety and efficacy of psilocybin in treating “substance use disorder, depression, anxiety disorders and end-of-life psychological distress,” according to the committee amendment.
Other duties include reviewing what other states have done, developing a long-term strategic plan to create a program in Maine and making recommendations to the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee by November.
