Colorado's Psychedelics Bill Advances: Gov. Polis Appoints Natural Medicine Advisory Board

Following the state’s new psychedelics law, Colorado governor Jared Polis (D) has appointed 15 members to serve on the Natural Medicine Advisory Board, created to ensure psychedelics research occurs as well as to provide policy recommendations on the measure’s provisions. 

See also: Colorado's Psychedelics Legal Scenario: Insurance & State Aid, Advisory Board And Local Regulations

The board is now composed of specialized researchers, academics and people working in the fields of psychedelic medicine and law enforcement, including renowned psychiatrist Dr. Sue Sisley and former cannabis journalist Ricardo Baca, as first spotted by Marijuana Moment.

Their expertise ranges from emergency services, public education and harm reduction to mycology, indigenous and veterans’ issues and drug policy. Some on the list will serve two or four years

The advisory council is mandated to present an initial report including policy proposals by Sept. 30, 2023.

While the new law legalizes possession, cultivation and sharing of “personal amounts” of psilocybin, ibogaine, mescaline (not derived from peyote), DMT and psilocin for adults over 21, for the moment it only permits the sale of psilocybin and psilocin at the upcoming licensed healing centers.

These facilities will be able to lawfully offer both substances within a therapeutic framework. Yet the possibility of further adding the other natural psychedelics included in the decriminalized list is open with a recommendation from the advisory board, as of June 1, 2026.

State regulators need to set up guidelines for trained facilitators to provide the medicine at the centers by Jan. 1, 2024, and begin taking in licensing applications by Sept. 30 of that same year.

Photo: Benzinga edit with photo by Serrgey75, rybart and fizkes on Shutterstock.