Colorado’s first psychedelic church has officially opened its doors in Colorado Springs, offering a unique approach to spiritual and community gatherings centered around the use of psychedelics.
Founded by Benji Dezaval, the church seeks to provide a safe space for individuals to explore the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of substances like psilocybin mushrooms and DMT. The church offers “communal gifts” of two grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms, two weeks’ worth of microdoses or a light dose of dimethyltryptamine (DMT). All without a cost.
“Everything is provided for free as an act of wellness,” lead guide Dezaval said before offering the psychedelics he cultivated inside his northeastern Colorado Springs home to the group of faces, some familiar to him, some new.
The church, currently in the process of becoming a certified religious nonprofit, hosts a variety of events, including discussions on topics such as love and social justice, as well as social activities like movie nights and painting sessions. All attendees must be 21 years or older, and the church provides psychedelics free of charge as part of its wellness offerings.
The church’s opening comes in the wake of Colorado’s 2022 passage of Proposition 122, which decriminalized psilocybin and allows adults to share psychedelics within certain contexts, including spiritual guidance and community-based use. Dezaval emphasizes that the church operates within these legal boundaries, offering psychedelics as part of its religious practices rather than as a commercial venture.
Despite its spiritual focus, the church also serves as an inclusive community space, attracting a diverse group of individuals, including many who identify as LGBTQ+ or neurodivergent. Dezaval has invested significant personal resources into establishing the church, with hopes that nonprofit status will eventually help sustain its operations.
As Colorado continues to develop regulations for its emerging psilocybin industry, including psychedelic-assisted therapy set to launch in 2025, the church represents a growing interest in alternative approaches to mental health and spiritual well-being.
City officials in Colorado Springs have acknowledged the church’s existence and are monitoring how state regulations will evolve. The church, however, has yet to receive any formal complaints or concerns from residents, according to a spokesperson for the mayor’s office.
The opening of this church marks a significant step in the broader movement towards integrating psychedelics into legal and community frameworks in Colorado. As regulations continue to take shape, the church’s future role in the community remains a subject of interest.
