With the new year, that means bills will be re-introduced to the state house. One of those bills will help legalize the use of psilocybin-containing mushrooms, otherwise known as “magic mushrooms” If passed, this bill will allow adults 18 and older to take a health screening and an educational course to receive a permit to use, purchase from licensed cultivators, or cultivate psychedelic mushrooms.

Allison Hoots is the lawyer who wrote the bill to establish legal access to psilocybin for New York State. She has been working with Assemblyperson Amy Paulin, the chair of the Health Committee. Assemblyperson Paulin introduced the bill earlier this year.

Permit holders could also have the choice of using psychedelic mushrooms either individually or with a trained and certified support services provider.

Hoots said the bill will also do a lot within the criminal justice system. For example, it will remove most of the criminal penalties. the only one that will remain is a violation that can result in 15 days in jail or a fine if the person has gone outside the regulated system.

“Because we do want to incentivize people in, but I think just that one act of the state saying this isn’t that criminal- we made a mistake,” Hoots said. “And then removing psilocybin from the controlled substances law in New York is what this bill also does. And it would do it immediately.”

Hoots also emphasized that the bill should not be compared to medicinal marijuana since she believes it will do more for public health. Even though it has been used to help treat certain health conditions, including those in need of palliative care.

Someone with a permit can purchase psilocybin from one of the cultivators. The cultivators will also be regulated by the bill. As a result, there will be no dispensary.

“And that was really important because I saw how complicated it was with cannabis,” she said. “And I just don’t think it’s an industry like cannabis. People don’t consume that much psilocybin-containing mushrooms. You can’t live life on mushrooms. Maybe on Shitake or like Turkey Tail, but not these kinds. And so the industry is so much smaller. It kind of has to be built into other industries. It makes sense if you already have been cultivating mushrooms- add this one.”

Once the bill is re-introduced there will be lobby days that the public can participate in to learn more on how this will affect the public health space.