The Natural Medicine Advisory Board in Colorado, composed of 15 members appointed by Gov. Jared Polis, will play a significant role in shaping the state’s psilocybin-assisted therapy industry. The board is expected to provide recommendations to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) on various aspects of the industry, including manufacturing, testing, and application of psilocybin and psilocin.
The board’s first set of recommendations is due by September 30, 2023, and DORA is expected to adopt rules and begin accepting license applications by September 30, 2024. Regulations regarding facilitator training and qualification criteria will be adopted by January 1, 2024.
The board members have backgrounds in healthcare, therapy, research, emergency medicine, mental health facilities, and advocacy, and have expressed a range of opinions on psychedelics’ potential benefits and risks. The board is expected to explore topics such as training criteria for facilitators, equitable access to psilocybin services, public health messaging, product safety standards, and insurance coverage for treatment. Colorado is the second state, after Oregon, to legalize psilocybin, and the board’s recommendations are expected to shape the industry in the state.
