Sarah Brown
Darren Lyman, the owner of Denver's first psilocybin mushroom dispensary, Lyman Support Centers, has found a way to offer magic mushrooms to the community without breaking the law. Although the sale of mushrooms is prohibited in Colorado, Lyman sells consulting services on how to use them, and the mushrooms themselves are a gift. He operates under Colorado's 2022 Natural Medicine Health Act, which decriminalized certain psychedelics and legalized medical psilocybin. While some customers have vouched for the dispensary, there are also reports of fraudulent transactions and scams.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Founder | Darren Lyman |
| Location | 800 W 8th Ave in Denver |
| Legality | Operating in a legal grey area |
| Law enforcement action | Investigated but not charged or forced to shut down |
| Business model | Sells consulting services, mushrooms are a "gift" |
| Products | Psilocybin mushrooms, psilocybin-infused lotions, creams, lip balm, activated charcoal capsules |
| Customer experience | Text for instructions, show ID (21+ only), 10-30 minute consultation |
| Payment methods | Apple Cash, Venmo, Visa, MC, Paypal |
| Reviews | Mixed, some negative reviews alleging fraud |
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What You'll Learn
Darren Lyman's Lyman Support Centers offers mushrooms for free
Darren Lyman is one of Colorado's first magic mushroom co-op founders, and the owner of Lyman Support Centers, a small studio tucked just off Denver's Santa Fe Drive. He believes that he is operating legally under Colorado's 2022 voter-approved Natural Medicine Health Act, or Proposition 122, which decriminalized psychedelics and legalized medical psilocybin, including personal cultivation, possession, and sharing.
Lyman customers get their mushrooms from his facility after a "support" session but consume them elsewhere. To enter, you must be 21 or older and show your ID. You then sit down for a chat with a staffer, which can last from 10 to 30 minutes for first-timers and is often shorter for regulars. Lyman provides consulting services on how to properly use the mushrooms, and the mushrooms themselves are given for free as a gift for using his services. He teaches his customers how to use, dose, and cook with the mushrooms, and provides recipes and ideas for what to make. He also includes activated charcoal capsules with each purchase as a fail-safe in case things get out of control and his customers need the trip to end.
Lyman sources his mushrooms from multiple Colorado growers and tests them at Tryptomics and Friday Ventures for potency and purity. He insists that he is selling services and not the psilocybin itself, which is free. He also sells self-authored informational pamphlets about psilocybin use and activated charcoal capsules, a common way of reducing body absorption of psilocybin.
Lyman's business has attracted people from all over the world, and he has been investigated for operating in a legal grey area but has never been charged or forced to shut down. He has no plans to convert his operation into a regulated healing center where psilocybin is consumed on-site, but he is expanding his product line to include psilocybin-infused lotions, creams, and lip balm.
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Psilocybin Mushrooms operates in a clandestine manner
In 2022, Colorado's Proposition 122, or the Natural Medicine Health Act, decriminalized certain psychedelics and legalized medical psilocybin. Adults are now allowed to cultivate, possess, and share psilocybin mushrooms, but not sell them. Darren Lyman, the owner of Psilocybin Mushrooms, a magic mushroom dispensary in Denver, has found a way to navigate this legal grey area.
Lyman insists that he is not selling psilocybin mushrooms but rather, consulting services on how to use them. He sells informational pamphlets about psilocybin use and activated charcoal capsules to reduce body absorption in case of excessive consumption. The mushrooms themselves are given to customers for free after a “support” session, to be consumed elsewhere. This business model is comparable to that of illegal weed dispensaries and certain websites that offer drugs as "gifts" with a purchase.
Lyman's dispensary operates in a clandestine manner, with customers having to text a number from an ad in Westword Magazine to schedule an appointment and receive instructions on how to enter the building. The physical location of the dispensary is also rather discreet, with an unmarked door and a buzzer to ring before entering.
Lyman has been investigated by law enforcement for operating in a legal grey area, but he maintains that he is “operating within the law” and that his business is “100% in the legal scope." He plans to expand his product line to include psilocybin-infused lotions, creams, and lip balms.
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Darren sells consulting services, not mushrooms
Darren Lyman is one of Colorado's first magic mushroom co-op founders, but he doesn't sell mushrooms. He sells consulting services on how to properly use them. The mushrooms themselves are just a gift for using his services. Darren operates under Colorado's 2022 Natural Medicine Health Act, or Proposition 122, which decriminalized certain psychedelics and legalized medical psilocybin. Adults can now cultivate, possess and share psilocybin mushrooms, but the sale of mushrooms is still prohibited under Colorado law.
Darren's consulting services include teaching his customers how to use mushrooms, how to dose themselves, and how to cook with them. He provides recipes and ideas for what to make, as well as teaching how to use chocolate and microdose capsules. Darren also includes activated charcoal capsules with each purchase as a fail-safe in case things get out of control.
Darren's business, Lyman Support Centers, is located in a small studio just off Denver's Santa Fe Drive. It has been offering psilocybin mushrooms as natural medicine for around two years. Customers get their mushrooms from his facility after a "support" session but consume them elsewhere. To enter, customers must buzz a call box, show their ID (21+ only), and sit down for a chat with a staff member.
Darren insists that he is operating within the law and is not violating anything. He plans to apply for licenses and permits when they become available and hopes that the NMD will create a "support center license" for businesses like his. While Darren has been investigated for operating in a legal grey area, he has never been charged or forced to shut down.
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Psilocybinmushroomdispensary.com is a fraudulent website
One review mentions that the website lists multiple contact numbers, emails, and even a Cash App username, which is a huge red flag. The reviewer paid $160 and was scammed by the person at the other end of one of the contact numbers listed on the website. The scammer posed as the delivery company and kept asking for more money, claiming it was "refundable," until the reviewer was out $287 without ever receiving the product.
Another review from August 22, 2024, details a similar scam tactic. The reviewer ordered from the website, which states that it accepts various payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, and Venmo. However, when it was time to pay, the reviewer was told that they could only use Apple Cash. After helping the reviewer set up Apple Cash and taking $280 from that account, the so-called company contacted the reviewer again, claiming that they needed to increase the order to $500 for the delivery to be accepted. When the reviewer asked for a refund, they were denied, with the "owner" claiming that their order was already in the system and couldn't be refunded.
The reviewers have warned others not to fall for this scam and have emphasized that Psilocybinmushroomdispensary.com is not a legitimate website. They have shared their negative experiences and financial losses to help others avoid becoming victims of this fraudulent operation.
It is important to exercise caution when purchasing products online, especially when it comes to substances like magic mushrooms. It is always advisable to prioritize your safety and only purchase from reputable and licensed sources to avoid scams and ensure the quality and safety of the products.
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Denver's mushroom dispensary offers medicinal mushrooms
Owner Darren Lyman claims to be operating legally under Colorado's 2022 Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122), which decriminalized certain psychedelics and legalized medical psilocybin for personal cultivation, possession, and sharing. Lyman insists he is selling services such as advice and informational pamphlets, and not the psilocybin itself, which is free.
Lyman Support Centers, tucked off Denver's Santa Fe Drive, has been offering psilocybin mushrooms as natural medicine for around two years. Customers receive mushrooms after a "support" session but consume them elsewhere. To enter, one must show ID (21+) and sit for a chat with a staffer. Lyman advertises in Westword and other outlets, and his phone number, included in the ads, receives around three to five calls per day.
The dispensary has attracted attention from law enforcement, but Lyman has never been charged or forced to shut down. He plans to expand his product line to include psilocybin-infused lotions, creams, and lip balm.
Denver's mushroom dispensary has received mixed reviews. One customer praised the dispensary for providing natural medicine to treat their mental health issues. However, some online reviews warn of potential scams, with customers reporting issues with non-delivery and fraudulent payment requests.
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Frequently asked questions
Denver's first psilocybin mushroom dispensary, Lyman Support Centers, is not a traditional dispensary. While the sale of mushrooms is prohibited under Colorado law, Darren Lyman offers consulting services on how to use them, and gives mushrooms as a "gift" to his customers. Lyman insists that he is operating within the law, and has not been charged or forced to shut down.
Customers walk in, show their ID (21+ only), and sit down for a "support" session with a staffer. After the session, they can get mushrooms from the facility, but must consume them elsewhere.
There are mixed reviews for the Denver mushroom dispensary. One source mentions that they had a positive experience and found the mushrooms to be beneficial for their mental health. However, there are also several negative reviews on Trustpilot for the website psilocybinmushroomdispensary.com, with customers reporting scams and non-delivery of orders.
