Rift forms between Colorado conservatives and veterans over new state law

In 2022, a ballot measure in Colorado called for legalizing the use of psilocybin in mental health therapy — and it passed. Colorado officials have, since then, been working out the rules, and companies operating in that state can now apply for licenses to administer psilocybin (which is found in psychedelic mushrooms). But in Colorado Springs, according to Associated Press (AP) reporter Jesse Bedayn, some conservative Republicans are restricting the treatment — which is putting them at odds with some military veterans in the city.Bedayn, in an AP article published on New Year’s Day 2025, explains, “While Colorado metros cannot ban the treatment under state law, several conservative cities have worked to preemptively restrict what are known as ‘healing centers.’ At a City Council meeting in Colorado Springs…. members were set to vote on extending the state prohibition on healing centers from 1000 feet (305 meters) to 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from certain locations, such as schools. From the lectern, veterans implored them not to.”READ MORE: How the religiously unaffiliated are finding purpose and spirituality in psychedelic churchesColorado was the second state in the U.S. to legalize the use of psilocybin or so-called “magic mushrooms” as part of therapy. The first was Oregon, where some conservative Republicans have also been voicing their objections. But not everyone on the right is anti-psilocybin. Bedayn notes that pro-psilocybin veterans in Colorado have “pulled in some conservative support for psychedelic therapy.”The AP reporter points out that in Colorado, psilocybin is governed much differently from marijuana.Colorado legalized recreational marijuana use in 2014, but the ballot measure that passed in 2022 did not legalize psilocybin as a recreational drug — only as part of mental health therapy.READ MORE: Even some red states are pushing for medical use of psychedelics: report”Psilocybin is decriminalized (in Colorado),” Bedayn explains, “but there won’t be recreational dispensaries for the substance, which will be largely confined to licensed businesses and therapy sessions with licensed facilitators. Patients will have to go through a risk assessment, preliminary meetings, then follow-up sessions and remain with a facilitator while under the drug’s influence. The psilocybin will also be tested, and the companies that grow them regulated by a state agency.”READ MORE: Australia becomes first country to legalize MDMA and psilocybin for therapeutic usageRead the Associated Press’ full article at this link.

Read Full Article