Colorado is at the forefront of a national movement to explore the therapeutic potential of psychedelic substances. In November 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act, making Colorado the second state in the nation to decriminalize the personal use of psilocybin and other natural psychedelics for adults 21 and older. The law also created a framework for regulated access through licensed healing centers, with the state's regulated access program launching in 2024.
Denver Health's Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety (RMPDS) center sits at the intersection of this emerging science and public health. As Colorado's regulatory landscape continues to evolve, Denver Health is committed to providing patients, providers, and the community with trusted, evidence-based information on the risks, benefits, and appropriate use of psychedelic medicine.
What Is Psilocybin? ('Magic Mushrooms')
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in certain species of mushrooms, commonly called "magic mushrooms." When consumed, the body converts psilocybin into psilocin, which affects serotonin receptors in the brain and can alter perception, mood, and patterns of thought. Psilocybin has received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for treatment-resistant depression, reflecting growing scientific interest in its therapeutic potential.
Psilocybin Research and Public Health Safety
Early research suggests psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits for conditions including depression, PTSD, addiction, and anxiety related to terminal illness. At the same time, psilocybin carries real risks, including adverse reactions, dangerous interactions with certain medications, and increased risk of psychotic episodes in individuals with a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
RMPDS monitors psilocybin exposure trends and conducts research to help inform public health policy and clinical practice. As psilocybin use increases in Colorado and nationwide, this surveillance work is critical for protecting community health.
Colorado's Proposition 122 and the Natural Medicine Health Act
Under Proposition 122, adults 21 and older in Colorado may legally grow, possess, and consume psilocybin mushrooms for personal use. The law also established a licensed healing center program, allowing trained and licensed facilitators to administer psilocybin in regulated settings. Colorado became the second U.S. state to create a legal, regulated access framework for psilocybin. The state may expand the program to include additional natural psychedelics such as ibogaine, mescaline, and DMT starting in 2026.
In the News
- Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety Study Quantifies Impact of Psychedelic Policy Reform (March 2026)
New peer-reviewed research from RMPDS provides the most current evidence-based data on how decriminalization has affected psilocybin use — a resource for states considering similar policy changes. - Largest U.S. Survey on Adult Psychedelic Use Unveiled at Science Summit (August 2025)
Findings from the inaugural National Survey Investigating Hallucinogenic Trends (NSIHT) were presented at RMPDS's annual Scientific Meeting, offering the most comprehensive national picture of adult psychedelic use to date. - Denver Health Study Shows Magic Mushroom Use Increasing (April 2025)
A study led by RMPDS researchers, with co-authors from SAMHSA, found a sharp rise in psilocybin use across the United States, with significant implications for public health monitoring and policy. - Cases of Psilocybin Exposure Rising (January 2025)
RMPDS data shows an increase in reported psilocybin exposure cases, highlighting the need for continued public health surveillance as use grows following decriminalization.
