DENVER — On Thursday, July 22, the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office announced that proposed initiative #58 has qualified for the November 8 General Election ballot.
the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 It would create a model of regulated access, creating so-called “healing centers” for patients and eliminating criminal penalties for people 21 and older. People under the age of 21 could still be charged with a misdemeanor drug offense.
Is one of two measures related to psychedelics proponents are trying to make it to the November ballot this year.
Natural medicines in the measure are certain plant-based or mushroom-based psychedelics, such as psilocybin-containing mushrooms.
Those behind the measure say Colorado’s approach to mental health has failed and it will take years for the federal government to act. Co-authors Veronica Lightning Horse Perez and Kevin Matthews believe Coloradans should be able to access natural medicines now.
“[They are] designed for people such as veterans suffering from PTSD, people who are terminally ill, and struggling with end-of-life challenges. And anyone could really access these services,” Matthews said.
“The way we’ve defined personal use, and we’re getting closer to decriminalization, is that people could use, possess, grow, store and even share these natural medicines without facing any kind of criminal repercussions for it.” Perez said.
In 2019, Denver voters decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms. Advocates gathered signatures for the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 this spring.
Shannon Hughes is an associate professor in the Colorado State University School of Social Work who researches psilocybin.
“In depression clinical trials, they found that 60 to 80 percent of participants report an immediate and substantial decrease in depression from end-of-life distress when facing a terminal illness,” Hughes said of the use of mushrooms containing psilocybin.
For patients, natural medicines to the extent would be administered in “healing centers”, but anything grown outside of one by an individual cannot be sold.
Alan Floyd is a cancer patient who uses psilocybin under the federal Right to Try law. Floyd said traditional pharmaceuticals didn’t work for him and some even made him commit suicide. However, he found some solace in the psychedelic mushroom capsules.
Still, Floyd thinks “everyone has to be very careful about legalization.”
If the measure is approved, the Natural Medicine Advisory Board would be created, with members appointed by January of next year. Qualifications, education and training for facilitators of natural medicines would be detailed in January 2024. Applications for healing centers could be submitted in September 2024.
“The Natural Medicine Advisory Board has a huge responsibility here to make sure the program works for all Coloradans. That advisory board will also report to the state legislature, specifically on the effects of how this is accessible to Coloradans,” Matthews explained.
Perez added: “We want to make sure these prices are not so out of control that it’s not equitable. And people from different socioeconomic levels can’t use this drug, in this way, through the regulated system because the cost is too high.” .
Going even further, the Natural Medicine Advisory Council could recommend in June 2026 to expand natural medicines to include other psychedelics.
The exact timeline would be determined by the state, in conjunction with the board, during the implementation process.
There is also a retroactive element to the measure, which means the records could be erased.
Opponents argue that psychedelics would be marketed similarly to cannabis in Colorado.
“This is going to be very, very bad for the state of Colorado,” said Colorado Christian University Centennial Institute director Jeff Hunt. street corner shops that sell psychedelic mushrooms, and they want to make money off of it. Ultimately, it’s about money. It’s about making money off drug addicts in Colorado.”
However, advocates said they don’t want to see recreational natural medicine dispensaries.
“I don’t want drug companies to have a stranglehold on this drug,” Matthews said.
With so many sides to consider in this initiative, Coloradans have a lot to think about in November.