Colorado’s Path to Psychedelic Regulation: Community Listening Sessions Announced

LOS ANGELES– In a proactive move to foster community engagement and inclusivity, the Colorado Natural Medicine Division has announced a series of “listening sessions” scheduled throughout September and October. These sessions are designed to involve stakeholders and educate the public on the unfolding process of regulated access regulations pertaining to the recent psychedelic legalization ballot measure

Dominique Mendiola, the senior director of the division, which operates under the Department of Revenue, emphasized the vital role of community involvement in shaping a natural medicine program that encapsulates a myriad of perspectives. Mendiola noted that their regulatory experience underscores the importance of collaboration with all stakeholders in developing a balanced and well-informed framework.

The forthcoming listening sessions are envisioned as a platform where diverse voices can be heard, thereby ensuring that the adopted framework is both balanced and well-informed. Although further meetings are anticipated in the coming months, the currently scheduled sessions are set to occur both in-person and via Zoom on specific dates in September and October.

These sessions will delve into a range of topics including an overview of the SB 23-290 and an introduction to the Natural Medicine Division. Other focal points include training for first and multi-responders, public education campaigns, and discussions on testing programs, as well as cultivation and manufacturing practices concerning the legal provision of therapeutic psychedelic substances such as psilocybin and psilocin, and potentially extending to ibogaine, mescaline (not derived from peyote), and DMT.

In a bid to maintain transparency, these meetings will be recorded and open to the general public, although the feasibility of in-person attendance is still under consideration, contingent upon the available space at the Department of Revenue.

Parallelly, the 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board is slated to host several meetings on September 25, fostering further dialogue and collaboration.

This initiative comes at a critical juncture, as Colorado grapples with the burgeoning gray market for psilocybin, a phenomenon that has escalated since the passing of Prop. 122. The state has witnessed a surge in the sale of products containing psychedelics, alongside a rise in tripsitting and therapeutic services, a trend that has raised concerns, as highlighted in a recent report by NPR featuring comments from state Senate president Steve Fenberg.

As Colorado stands at the cusp of a new era in natural medicine regulation, these listening sessions represent a concerted effort to craft a policy that is both inclusive and reflective of a diverse set of perspectives, paving the way for a more informed and balanced approach to psychedelic legalization.