A Colorado patient took psilocybin for the first time under the natural medicine program of the state. The Center Origin became Colorado’s first-ever licensed healing center in April, as part a rollout of the voter approved system completed last week.
Elizabeth Cooke posted on Sunday, “Big News” on the social media. We held the first psychedelic assisted healing session with psilocybin last week.
The healing process has entered a new phase. “A milestone moment is here and a new chapter in healing has begun!” she wrote. This marks the beginning our work of offering psychedelics-assisted, safe, transformational, intentional healing experiences to people seeking greater growth and restoration.
Colorado regulators last week certified the testing lab for the program of natural medicines, the final part in the state’s psychedelic framework.
The Governor of California, Jared Polis, announced that the state psychedelics program had been “fully operationalized” Jared Polis, a Democrat from Washington State, announced the “full launch” of the state’s second psychedelics-related program.
Cooke announced the previous Friday that “psilocybin grown in a facility regulated by state law” had officially arrived at her center earlier this week.
Colorado’s voter approved program allows for licensed facilitators conduct therapeutic sessions utilizing psilocybin. Psilocybin is the active ingredient found in psychedelics mushrooms.
The Department of Revenue’s Natural Medicine Division has approved three cultivation licenses standard, two manufacturing licenses for products, and one test license.
The launch of Psilocybin Sessions in Colorado was greeted with enthusiasm by advocates for reform.
Tasia Poinsatte, Colorado director for the nonprofit Healing Advocacy Fund, called the news “an incredible milestone—not just for our state, but for the meany people who have been waiting and hoping for a new option to help them heal.”
She said that Coloradans were now sitting with facilitators who are licensed in safe and supportive environments to begin their healing with psilocybin. The culmination of years of careful, community-driven research and policymaking that has shown how psychedelic therapy can provide real relief when other therapies have failed.
Polis signed a bill to create the regulatory framework for psychedelics in 2023, following voters’ passage of the legalization law the year before.
Oregon voters previously legalized therapeutic psilocybin in 2020.
Poinsatte said to MEDCAN24 in the last month, that up until now “the program has been rolled out carefully and thoughtfully.”
She said that Colorado’s law allows for “greater integration” with other healthcare forms. For example, therapists can administer psilocybin in their office, without having to operate and secure a separate psychedelic facility.
She explained that “we’ve been doing a lot to advocate for more affordable options” and “part of it is simply flexibility in options.”
Polis also signed a bill earlier this month to ease pardons of low-level possession convictions. He said that it was another step towards “a fairer tomorrow.”
According to the Governor, “low level possession of DMT, DMT ibogaine or psilocybin is legal now and can be taken off criminal records”.
In the newly passed legislation, Sen. Matt Ball and Rep. Lisa Feret authorize governors to grant pardons to those who have been convicted of low-level possessions such as DMT, DMT ibogaine or psilocybin that were legalized in adulthood by a ballot initiative approved by voters.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will be required, as well as the Department of Revenue and Department of Regulatory Agencies to “collect data and information related to the usage of natural medicines and natural products”.
Earlier this session, Polis also signed into law a bill that would allow a form of psilocybin to be prescribed as a medication if the federal government authorizes its use.
Colorado had already approved psilocybin for use by adults aged 21 or older, through an initiative that was approved on the ballot. However, the reform now in place will allow drugs with psilocybin isolated crystalized versions to be prescribed under medical supervision.
Separately in Colorado, a bill that would have limited THC in marijuana and outlawed a variety of psilocybin products died following the lead sponsor’s move to withdraw the legislation.
Former Texas governor and Trump cabinet member played key role in making Texas a leader for psychedelics research
Image courtesy Wikimedia/Mushroom observer.