This week’s midterm elections brought the historic Proposition 122 to the ballot in Colorado, which would create a “natural medicine” services program for the supervised administration of psychedelics; it would also create a framework for regulating the growth, distribution, and sale of such substances to permitted entities. It would also create the Natural Medicine Advisory Board.
The Proposition ended up passing, meaning psychedelics like DMT, Peyote, and Magic Mushrooms can now legally be administered as natural medicine in certain situations under certain supervised programs. That means there’s now an ample opportunity for psychedelic tourism in Colorado, with programs aimed to help heal or minimize anxiety, depression, and PTSD as an alternative to synthetic medications.
While more research is being done on the long-term effects of psychedelics, like psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, there are a few studies that have scientists testing different doses for patients, with the most advanced study showing tempered results from earlier trials. There’s still a lot to learn about the use of psychedelics to treat mental disorders, but the research in Colorado has inched one step closer.
The Proposition gives Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies until January 2024 to develop the licensing criteria and standards, so any new businesses cropping up won’t be happening until 2024 at minimum.