Colorado has officially launched its application process for psilocybin treatment centers.
Dried psilocybin.
Approved by voters in 2022, Proposition 122 (the Natural Medicine Health Act) allows regulated use of psilocybin for conditions such as depression and PTSD, for those 21 and older. As of today, January 1, licenses for treatment centers are now open for those interested in applying. Although it will take months for services to commence, this marks a significant milestone in the 2022 law being fully enacted.
The move has sparked heated debates, particularly in conservative areas like Colorado Springs, notes the Associated Press. Local leaders have imposed restrictions on psilocybin “healing centers,” limiting their proximity to schools and other locations. Despite objections from veterans advocating for access, the City Council passed a measure extending these restrictions, citing safety concerns.
Veterans like Lane Belone have been vocal proponents of psilocybin therapy, emphasizing its potential to address the lingering trauma of military service. “This is an opportunity to support veterans,” said Belone, who credits psilocybin with helping him manage anxiety and reconnect with life.
While psilocybin remains federally illegal, Colorado’s program is far more controlled than the state’s recreational marijuana market. Therapy will involve strict oversight, including risk assessments, monitored sessions, and regulated psilocybin production.
Advocates argue the urgency of addressing mental health crises. “This is a tool we can add to our toolbox,” said Taylor West of the Healing Advocacy Fund.
With promising results from early studies, Colorado’s program could pave the way for broader acceptance of psychedelic therapies, and similar programs being enacted in other states.
Proposition 122 also allows for the possession of psilocin, DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline (excluding peyote), but it doesn’t establish regulated distribution of these substances.
