Did the Maine Legislature legalize psychedelic mushrooms?

The Maine Legislature recently considered — but ultimately backed away from — a move to partly decriminalize mushrooms containing the psychedelic compound psilocybin, often called magic mushrooms.

The bill, LD 1034, sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland, would have decriminalized the possession of 1 ounce or less of psilocybin for people 21 or older. Decriminalization removes criminal penalties but doesn’t make a substance legal to possess or sell.

The Democratic-controlled state House and Senate narrowly passed the bill by a single vote in each chamber.

However, the bill narrowly failed a second and final enactment vote in both chambers, so no changes were made to state law. The second House vote was 74-72 against, with three absent and two excused; the Senate vote was 16-16, with three excused.

Psilocybin remains a Schedule X drug in Maine, possession of which is a Class D crime.