Colorado voters, last November, decriminalized a handful of psychedelics and set the state on the path to regulated “healing centers” where people will be able to take psilocybin mushrooms in a supervised setting.
Now, the state Department of Revenue (DOR) National Medicine Division wants to hear from the public about how all of it should work.
The one-hour online sessions will be held on September 5 (today from 11am-12noon); and also on September 12, 22 and 27; and on October 3.
The goal is to collect comments from the general public as well as from people involved in the developing industry.
Today’s online agenda:
- Introduction to Natural Medicine Division (Division)
- Presentation of SB 23-290 Statutory Responsibilities Assigned to DOR
- Overview of Priority Focus Areas presented to the Natural Medicine Advisory Board
- Anticipated Implementation Timeline
- Q&A Opportunity – Priorities & Implementation
Click here to join the listening session.
From a recent article on CPR.org by Andrew Kenney:
“Knowing that this activity can happen across the state, what are community members thinking?” said Dominique Mendiola, senior director of the Department of Revenue’s new Natural Medicine Division. (Mendiola also heads the Marijuana Enforcement Division.)
The sessions are being hosted by DOR, which will set rules for the manufacture and cultivation of psychedelic drugs. DOR also will help train first responders, and it will keep track of law enforcement incidents, adverse health events, consumer protection claims, behavioral health impacts and effects on the health care system. The state’s public health department will also be involved in that work…
“We’re preparing to address any questions we can answer in those sessions, but even if we aren’t able to address a question on the spot during these sessions, it’s very helpful for us to understand what’s top of mind to any of our stakeholders…
The rise of the industry might raise issues with local governments. Unlike with cannabis regulation, city leaders cannot completely ban psychedelic cultivators or practitioners from city limits… but they can set some basic rules about where and how they operate.
The first state licenses for manufacturers, healing centers and others are expected to be granted around the end of 2024, according to CPR.org.