Emily Johnson
In 2019, Denver residents voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, making the city the first in the nation to ease psilocybin restrictions. In 2022, Colorado followed suit, passing a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older and to create state-regulated healing centers where participants can experience the drug under supervision. While some argue that decriminalization opens up opportunities for psychedelic therapies and treatments, critics warn that it jeopardizes public safety and sends the message that these substances are healthy despite not being approved by the FDA.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Denver, Colorado |
| Type of Drug | Psychedelic Mushrooms |
| Status | Decriminalized |
| Year | 2019 |
| Voter Initiative | Ordinance 301 |
| Voter Proposition | Proposition 122 |
| Voter Margin | Passed by 7% |
| Age Limit | 21 and older |
| Natural Medicine Businesses | Allowed to operate 24/7 |
| Advertising | Outdoor advertising banned |
| Childcare and Schools | Healing centers banned within 1,000 feet |
| Native American and Indigenous Cultures | Misappropriation banned |
| Federal Tribes | Exempt from licensing requirements |
| Personal Spaces | Allowed to cultivate mushrooms in up to 144 sq. ft. |
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What You'll Learn
Denver voters approved decriminalization in 2019
In 2019, Denver voters approved the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms. The vote made the city the first in the nation to ease restrictions on psilocybin. The initiative, known as Ordinance 301, aimed to open opportunities for psychedelic therapies, treatments, and research, which were previously considered criminal activities.
Proponents of the decriminalization argued that mushrooms should not be a crime, especially considering their potential medical applications and low-risk, non-addictive nature. They believed that criminalizing drugs was a flawed approach and that they should be treated as public health issues instead. Additionally, supporters highlighted the potential of naturally occurring psychedelics in treating mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, and addiction.
The approval allowed individuals in Denver to grow and use their own mushrooms. It also paved the way for the creation of "healing centers" or "therapy services", where clients could experience the drug under supervision. These centers would supply mushrooms but not sell them, and clients would pay for the services of a "facilitator" or "guide."
However, critics warned that the substances had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as medicine. They argued that allowing healing centers to operate and permitting private personal use of the drugs could jeopardize public safety and send a message that these substances are healthy.
In 2025, Denver adopted a new licensing law for mushrooms, marking an end to the era of the previous decriminalization ordinance. The new law embraced the state's regulatory framework and established rules for the operation of psilocybin cultivators and therapy services within the city.
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The initiative allows people 21+ to grow, possess and share mushrooms
In 2019, Denver residents voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, making the city the first in the nation to ease psilocybin restrictions. This initiative, known as Ordinance 301, was a significant step towards progressive drug policy and sparked a wave of similar decisions across the country.
Denver's initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms allows people 21 and older to grow, possess, and share mushrooms for personal use. It is important to note that the sale of mushrooms is still illegal. This decision was influenced by arguments that mushrooms should not be a criminal offense, considering their potential medical benefits, low risk, and non-addictive nature.
The initiative also includes the creation of "healing centers" or "state-regulated centers", where individuals can experience the drug under supervision. These centers are not allowed to sell mushrooms but can supply them to clients while charging for the services of a "facilitator." These centers cannot operate within 1,000 feet of childcare centers and K-12 schools and cannot advertise natural medicines to minors or misappropriate Native American and Indigenous cultures.
While some critics argue that allowing healing centers and personal use of mushrooms jeopardizes public safety and sends the wrong message about the substances' health benefits, supporters believe that the state's current approach to mental health has failed and that naturally occurring psychedelics can effectively treat various conditions.
Denver's decision to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms has had a significant impact, with the city now fully embracing the state's regulatory framework for psilocybin and natural medicines. This includes creating rules and regulations for cultivators and therapy services, with the first legal psilocybin businesses expected to open soon.
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The sale of mushrooms remains illegal
Denver has been at the forefront of the movement to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, with residents voting to ease restrictions on psilocybin in 2019. This made the city the first in the nation to take such a step. However, it is important to note that the sale of mushrooms remains illegal in Denver and Colorado more broadly. While the city has approved the decriminalization of mushrooms, the focus is on personal use, possession, and regulated "healing centers" rather than commercial sales.
In 2022, Colorado voters passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for individuals 21 and older. This initiative also aimed to establish state-regulated "healing centers" where people could experience the drug under supervision. The measure, known as Proposition 122 or Prop. 122, allowed individuals to grow and use mushrooms for personal use but did not permit the sale of mushrooms for profit. Instead, clients at these healing centers would pay for the services of the "facilitator" rather than purchasing the mushrooms directly.
The push for decriminalization in Denver and Colorado is driven by arguments for progressive drug policies and the exploration of mushrooms' potential therapeutic benefits. Proponents of decriminalization highlight the low-risk and non-addictive nature of psychedelic mushrooms, advocating for opportunities for psychedelic therapies, treatments, and research. Additionally, supporters argue that naturally occurring psychedelics have been used for hundreds of years to treat various mental health conditions, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and addiction.
However, critics have warned that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved psychedelic mushrooms as medicine. They argue that allowing healing centers to operate and permitting private personal use of the drug could jeopardize public safety and send a misleading message about the substances' safety. There are concerns that the commercial interests driving the legalization of recreational marijuana are also influencing the push for decriminalizing mushrooms, potentially leading to a sprawling and unregulated market.
While Denver has led the way in decriminalization efforts, the city has now adopted the state's regulatory framework for psilocybin. This includes creating rules for where and how psilocybin cultivators and therapy services can operate within Denver. The city has also implemented a licensing law for healing centers, which some critics worry will make it expensive to use psilocybin mushrooms legally. Despite the decriminalization of mushrooms, the sale of mushrooms for personal use remains illegal in Denver and Colorado, with the focus on personal growth, possession, and supervised use in healing centers.
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Healing centres will be allowed to supply clients with mushrooms
In 2022, Colorado voters passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older and to create state-regulated "healing centres" where participants can experience the drug under supervision. Colorado became the second state, after Oregon, to vote to establish a regulated system for substances like psilocybin and psilocin, the hallucinogens found in some mushrooms.
The initiative, which would take effect in 2024, also allowed an advisory board to add other plant-based psychedelic drugs to the program in 2026. Supporters argued that the state's current approach to mental health had failed and that naturally occurring psychedelics, which have been used for hundreds of years, can treat depression, PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and other conditions. They also stressed that the measure did not allow dispensaries like those selling recreational and medical marijuana.
Denver had approved the decriminalization of mushrooms several years before the state, and the city has now fully embraced the state's regulatory framework. Denver will ban healing centres within 1,000 feet of childcare centres and K-12 schools, following state guidelines. The new rule does not allow natural medicines to be advertised to minors or for healing centres to misappropriate Native American and Indigenous cultures. The city will ban all outdoor advertising for natural medicine, as it does with marijuana.
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The new licensing law will ban healing centres within 1,000 feet of schools
In 2022, Colorado voters passed a ballot initiative to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older. The initiative also sought to create state-regulated "healing centres" where participants could experience the drug under supervision. Denver, which approved the decriminalization of mushrooms several years before the state, partially decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms by requiring law enforcement officers to treat the act of possession as the lowest law enforcement priority.
In 2025, the Denver City Council adopted a new licensing law that banned healing centers within 1,000 feet of childcare centers and K-12 schools, following state guidelines. The new rule also prohibited the advertising of natural medicines to minors and the misappropriation of Native American and Indigenous cultures by healing centers. Additionally, the city will ban all outdoor advertising for natural medicine, similar to the regulations for marijuana.
The new licensing law in Denver is expected to bring an end to the era of the city's previous decriminalization ordinance, which was limited to "psilocybin mushrooms". The repealed ordinance made enforcement involving psilocybin mushrooms the lowest priority for law enforcement. With the new state law, the city must now use local resources to enforce regulations regarding natural medicine.
The new licensing law in Denver has sparked mixed reactions. Some critics worry that overregulating the industry will make it challenging and expensive to legally grow and use psilocybin mushrooms. On the other hand, Councilmember Chris Hinds, who supported the voter-passed ordinance, described the repeal as "the natural evolution of the work we began in Denver years ago". He emphasized the need to embrace a stronger and clearer regulatory framework, similar to those implemented by other states, to avoid confusion and regulatory conflicts.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Denver approved the decriminalization of psychedelic mushrooms in May 2019. The approval prohibited the city from using resources to prosecute people for the use or possession of mushrooms.
Denver's approval of mushrooms led to the establishment of healing centers, where people could experience the drug under supervision. The approval also allowed individuals to grow and use mushrooms for personal use.
Critics of the decision to approve mushrooms in Denver warned that the substances have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as medicine. They also argued that allowing "healing centers" to operate and permitting private personal use of the drugs could jeopardize public safety and send the wrong message to both kids and adults.
