Psychedelics are psychoactive substances, like LSD, mushrooms, ketamine, mescaline, and MDMA to name a few, that react with our bodies to change our perception, cognitive processes, and mood. These substances seem to be able to help certain people with symptoms of mental health issues, according to new studies, especially when traditional forms of treatment have failed.
Many people support the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes, especially in Colorado according to a campaign that has received more than enough signatures to legalize the substances.
Psychedelic Therapy
Psychedelics are able to help certain patients in ways that traditional therapy hasn’t. They can be used to treat anything from anxiety and depression to PTSD to addiction to eating disorders and even the emotional turmoil that comes with life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Researchers don’t fully understand how or why psychedelics function in this way. It’s possible that they can affect and improve patients’ moods by acting on their brain’s neurotransmitters. They may also give someone a new lease on life by changing their perspective with a “mystical experience,” or showing them a different way to think. According to some studies, these psychedelics also boost suggestibility, which makes a person more receptive to the concepts conveyed in therapy.
The Psychedelic Legalization Movement In Colorado
An initiative to legalize psychedelics and establish licensed psilocybin “healing centers” where people can use the drug for therapeutic purposes is gaining traction, according to Colorado activists.
The Natural Medicine Colorado campaign is a measure that would legalize possession of specific psychedelics, establish a supervised psilocybin therapy treatment model as well as afford those with prior convictions a route to record sealing. Backed by the national New Approach PAC, the campaign has turned in 222,648 signatures to the secretary of state’s office which is a great show of support for psychedelics as activists only need 124,632 signatures to make the cut for the ballot. Of course, the signatures need to be valid, however, with the campaign being more than 90 000 signatures above what is required, odds are they have enough.
According to Kevin Matthews, a designated representative for the initiative who spearheaded the historic campaign to decriminalize psilocybin in Denver in 2019, this initiative would provide Coloradans with access to a fresh, promising, and research-based potential treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges, in a way that is beneficial as well as safe.
For some who have suffered for years and fought to find relief, these medications “may be revolutionary,” he said.
The Natural Medicine Health Act, according to Josh Kappel, the campaign’s chair, prioritizes the health of patients and communities. “It was purposely created with a multi-phase implementation procedure that provides clear safety rules while allowing the specifics of the regulatory structure to be defined by the community and regulators working together,” says the author.
Veronica Perez, a co-designated spokesperson for the issue, stated that she is compelled to lead the ballot initiative because her “life’s work is to help alleviate suffering where I can and to remind people of how strong they truly are.” Adding that people’s healing can be facilitated by the Natural Medicine Health Act. Affording many people the ability to heal through receiving the treatment they are seeking.
Everyone knows someone who is hurting, and Matthews echoed this sentiment, saying, “We simply can’t turn our backs on the potential of this medicine and the people it could benefit.
About The Natural Medicine Health Act
Adults aged 21 and older would be permitted to possess, use, grow, and share psilocybin, mescaline (not derived from peyote), ibogaine, DMT, and psilocybin without restriction for therapeutic uses – no sales for recreational use would be permitted.
The Department of Regulatory Agencies would lead the creation of the regulations for a therapeutic psychedelics program that would allow adults over 21 to go to a registered healing facility and receive therapy under the supervision of a facilitator.
Only psilocybin and psilocin would be allowed for therapeutic use at accredited healing facilities through June 2026 under a two-tiered regulatory regime. After that, regulators could choose to allow the controlled use of DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline for therapeutic purposes as well.
The Department of Regulatory Agencies would decide whether to add more substances to the program after consulting with a new, 15-member Natural Medicine Advisory Board that comprises individuals with knowledge of psychedelic medicine in both scientific and spiritual contexts.
People who have finished serving their prison term for a crime rendered legitimate by the act would be allowed to ask the courts to seal their records. The court would have to automatically seal that record if the district attorney doesn’t protest.
Decriminalize Nature Colorado Initiative
The Natural Medicine Colorado initiative was opposed by a different campaign sponsored by Decriminalize Nature Colorado, which filed a competing petition in January. While the Natural Medicine initiative has its roots based in “healing centers” that are licensed for the psychedelic therapy treatments and everyone would be directed to these institutions, the opposing Decriminalise Nature initiative is more community-based.
Decriminalize Nature activists are also making progress in gathering signatures. The one-page proposal from that campaign would merely permit adults 21 and older to possess, grow, and distribute psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, mescaline, and DMT in any quantity.
Additionally, the campaign states that offering psychedelic services for counseling, therapy, harm reduction, and spiritual purposes with or without accepting payment would be legal, however, selling any of the psychedelics would be against the law. This initiative is a favorite among some people due to its grassroots being in community healing, with open distribution and sharing of psychedelic substances to promote healing for all.
There is countrywide support for the use of psychedelics as a form of therapeutic healing and we at Beard Bros love to see it!
Enjoyed that first hit? Come chill with us every week at the Friday Sesh for a freshly packed bowl of the week’s best cannabis news!
