Minnesota Lawmakers File Bill To Legalize Psilocybin Possession And Cultivation

Minnesota lawmakers have launched a invoice that might legalize the non-commercial possession and cultivation of psilocybin by adults 21 and older.

Rep. Andy Smith (D) filed the laws on Monday, with seven authentic cosponsors. The measure largely knowledgeable by the findings and recommendations of a task force that was established underneath a separate bill that Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed into law in 2024.

“I’ve had a couple folks ask me this: ‘We’re in a tight moment. Inflation is rising. Why is this something that you’re working on?’” Smith, who served on the duty power and whose prior laws created the physique, informed Marijuana Moment in a cellphone interview on Tuesday. “And it goes back to, all of us recognize, know someone or struggle ourselves with mental health—and that has been apparent for a while.”

“I think the pandemic highlighted how much we have to go as a society and how we deal with very complex issues, and these medications have shown, in studies, to have great potential to help in that,” Smith mentioned. “I think that’s why it’s important—and it’s important to move on these quickly and responsibly.”

Under the lawmaker’s proposal, the state legislation can be revised to make it so adults wouldn’t face legal or civil penalties for the non-public “use, possession, transportation and cultivation.”

The function part of the laws states that the reform is supposed to “reduce the burden on the criminal justice system, promote harm reduction, and enable individuals to make personal decisions regarding the use of psilocybin without fear of prosecution.”

A Psychedelic Medicine Board can be established underneath the invoice to ascertain possession limits. Smith mentioned that requirement—in addition to elements that will show extra controversial in an particularly divided legislature corresponding to decriminalizing cultivation—will probably be up for debate because the measure strikes by way of the method.

The board can be comprised of members appointed by the governor “who have knowledge and expertise regarding the use of psilocybin or other psychedelic medicines or regarding integration resources associated with the use of psilocybin,” in addition to “public members” the governor appoints, one member representing Tribal Nations within the state appointed by the Indian Affairs Council and the commissioners or well being and public security, or designees.

The laws additionally contains sure employment, housing and parental protections for adults utilizing psilocybin in compliance with the legislation.

Further, the proposal calls on the well being commissioner to “develop and implement a public education program that makes information available to the public on the responsible use of psilocybin, potential risks of using psilocybin, harm reduction strategies related to psilocybin use, and mental health resources related to psilocybin use.”

The well being official would moreover have to “develop and offer training programs for emergency medical responders, ambulance service personnel, peace officers, and other first responders on best practices for handling situations involving the use of psilocybin,” the invoice says.

Finally, the division can be accountable for awarding grants to “community-based organizations to fund training on secure practices for the usage of psilocybin and integration sources for people utilizing psilocybin.

“Entities eligible for a grant under this subdivision include organizations with experience working with individuals using psilocybin or providing integration resources to individuals using psilocybin,” it says. “Grant recipients must report grant program outcomes to the board in a form and manner specified by the board.”

Smith mentioned that, given different legislative priorities corresponding to passing the finances—in addition to political issues with Democrats and Republicans now evenly cut up within the legislature this session—he doesn’t anticipate that the proposal will begin shifting by way of the right committee course of till subsequent yr. However, he mentioned it’s doable casual hearings with stakeholders may happen outdoors of the formal calendar.

Asked in regards to the prospect of passage within the present political local weather, the sponsor mentioned it’s “hard to gauge right now,” however he feels there’s a “large enough runway” within the two-year session to advance the reform, in addition to a separate measure he’s planning to introduce imminently that might create a regulatory framework for state-legal psilocybin entry for medical functions.

With respect to the psychedelics activity power Smith that sat on that suggested the legislature earlier this yr, three of the proposals the group thought of earned the required help of two-thirds of members to change into official suggestions.

The roughly two-dozen-person panel contains lawmakers and agency representatives as well as a host of others appointed by the governor with expertise in well being coverage, psychological well being, substance use problems, veterans well being and psychedelic drugs.

The permitted suggestions have been:

• Create a state-regulated scientific program for the therapeutic administration of psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
• Remove legal penalties for the non-public use and possession of psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
• Allocate funding for extra analysis into the well being advantages of MDMA, psilocybin, and LSD.

—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this yr. Patreon supporters pledging not less than $25/month get entry to our interactive maps, charts and listening to calendar in order that they don’t miss any developments.

Learn extra about our marijuana bill tracker and change into a supporter on Patreon to get entry.
—

Meanwhile, along with creating the psychedelics activity power, the omnibus invoice that the governor signed to create the Psychedelic Medicine Task Force additionally included provisions to ascertain secure drug consumption websites.

A separate Minnesota law also took effect last year that legalized drug paraphernalia possession, syringe companies, managed substances residue and testing.

Additionally this month, a legislative committee within the state given approval to a plan that might develop eligibility for expungement of marijuana-related criminal records and resentencing.

New Hampshire Senate Committee Takes Up Several Cannabis Bills That Were Passed By The House

Image courtesy of Kristie Gianopulos.