Denver Has Decriminalized Psilocybin – Now What?

In a very close election this past week, Denver has voted to Decriminalized Magic Mushrooms. In anticipation of this moment, we sat down with the campaign lead to talk about what this victory could mean for Denver and potentially the rest of the country. Here is what Kevin had to say back in January about what’s next for the mile high city.

Now, Don’t Panic

Currently, we have no way to officially study this substance in-depth since it is criminalized federally and locally, however, recent (and limited) studies have shown Psilocybin has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression, OCD, PTSD, alcoholism, and  nicotine addiction, and possess a host of other qualities that could prove beneficial to society as a whole. However, with this new push for decriminalization, we could see more clinical research and broad studies begin to take place, and start to understand the potential benefits and dangers that psilocybin poses.

We decided to talk to an expert on the subject, Kevin Matthews. Kevin is the campaign director for the ballot initiative 301 to decriminalize psilocybin in Denver.

What do you see as big challenges that lie ahead for this movement?

Our campaign is working to rebrand the image of psychedelics – psilocybin in particular – away from the stigma created by 50 years of prohibition and deep cultural misunderstanding.

Prior to the Controlled Substances Act, top American universities conducted studies demonstrating the efficacy of psilocybin to treat various mental health challenges. This data was completely disregarded or thrown away after prohibition.

Therefore, the biggest challenge we face is changing public perception. We intend to run an effective educational campaign that not only highlights the benefits of psilocybin, but also demonstrates the fallacy of criminalizing individuals for simple use and possession of a naturally-occurring substance.

No one should face a felony charge, lose their job, their family, or their livelihood for using a substance that has a clearly understood medical benefit and is non-addictive.

We’re not looking too far ahead into the future beyond May 2019, but when we’re successful we might encounter some legal challenges from both the state of Colorado and the Federal Government, much in the same way decriminalizing and regulating cannabis triggered a response from multiple authorities.

This will only embolden our supporters and advocates for this work to continue, and we thankfully have stellar legal teams in place ready to defend this work if necessary.

Are safe consumption sites part of the plan for Denver, and what are the regulatory hurdles that needs to overcome with city government for those to be viable?

Safe consumption sites – or psilocybin service treatment centers – are not currently a part of the plan for Denver.

Part of our ordinance includes establishing a Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel which will consist of members of the Denver City Council, representatives from the law enforcement community, health professionals, and members of Decriminalize Denver.

This panel will assess the impact of psilocybin decriminalization in Denver and explore the next steps, which may include treatment centers.

Since we are working to decriminalize the personal possession and personal use of psilocybin, Denver residents may choose to consume in the safety of their own home, without fear of criminal penalties.

What are the potential economic and scientific benefits decriminalization to Denver?

Denver is a national leader when it comes to sensible and ethical drug policy reform, and the city yet again has an opportunity to demonstrate this with the passage of our ballot initiative.

Our focus right now is to keep people out of prison and keep families together.

This campaign will spark not only a conversation in the city, but a nationwide debate about the efficacy and safety of psilocybin, which is a huge opportunity for Denver.

We are already a national cultural hub, and we may become a national or international scientific hub to explore psilocybin and other psychedelics as powerful alternative remedies to the many mental health issues we face as a society.

Studies show that psilocybin use reduces criminality, reduces opioid use and dependence, and reduces tendencies toward suicidal behavior. All of this suggests the potential for decreasing the burden of law enforcement and reducing mental-health costs citywide. Overall we believe decriminalization will be a net-positive for Denver.

What are you most excited about for the future of the decriminalization movement in Denver as the May ballot approaches?

Simply the opportunity to talk about psilocybin mushrooms with Denver residents. We look forward to encouraging others to support our campaign by sharing about their positive experience with psilocybin, speaking with health and legal professionals, and neighborhood and professional organizations.

We get to take something that’s considered taboo and bring it to the forefront of the public eye, which is rare and exciting at the very least.

What was the genesis of Decriminalize Denver? Where did the thought initially come from?

We were inspired by the movements in California and Oregon, and also the current positive clinical research conducted at places like Johns Hopkins University.

Personally, psilocybin mushrooms changed my life – they released me from the box that major depression creates and gave me a new outlook on life. Everyone deserves to feel that, and no one deserves to be criminalized for it.