TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey state Legislature amended a marijuana decriminalization bill Thursday to decrease penalties for possession of the psychedelic drug magic mushrooms, according to reports.
Bill, S. 253 to lower punishment for possessing up to an ounce of psilocybin — the hallucinogenic compound found in shrooms was amended by a key Senate committee on Thursday from a third-degree felony to a disorderly persons offense, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
The legislation that includes the mushroom amendment was added by an unidentified senator and unanimously approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
According to criminallawyer-nj.com, the maximum fine for a disorderly persons charge is $500, along with up to 30 days in jail while a person convicted of a third-degree felony could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, .
"I'm really proud that this bill is unique in of its kind," Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), who sponsored the legislation, told nj.com. "New Jersey will be at the forefront of the decriminalization conversations."
New Jersey became the 12th state to legalize marijuana on Nov. 3 while Oregon became the first state to legalize the use of magic mushroom in therapy sessions.
In 2019, New York decriminalized the possession of up to 2 ounces of weed with. most past convictions for possession of 25 grams or less of marijuana to be automatically expunged.
