In 2019, Denver became the first city in the U.S. to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of psilocybin. Since then, other cities, including Ann Arbor, Michigan and Arcata, California, have taken the next step to decriminalize the possession and cultivation of all psychedelics. Now, Denver is looking to further expand their psilocybin decriminalization law to include gifting and communal use. 

The Denver Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel (the Panel), created shortly after psilocybin became decriminalized in 2019, held a meeting over potential recommendations. All recommendations put forth were approved by the panel and will be presented to the Denver City Council in November. The recommendations include:

• Train Denver first responders to recognize and respond to people undergoing a psychedelic crisis
• Create educational announcements to inform the public about safety, responsible use, and available risk reduction services
• Collect data collection and reporting system for any interactions with psilocybin for continued public safety monitoring
• Make sharing and gifting of psilocybin without purchase among the lowest law enforcement priority
• Decriminalize the communal use of psilocybin
• Expand voting panel members to be more representative of Denver’s diversity
• Research how psilocybin therapy can work to address mental health issues in Denver.

Public Support

Following the public vote in 2019 that decriminalized psilocybin, lawmakers have noticed how the crime rates in Denver have fallen. In 2018, there were 44 psilocybin cases in Denver. In the two years since decriminalization, there have only been a total of 47 cases in Denver. This decrease is reported to help law enforcement respond to more pressing cases, like emergencies and investigations. Additionally, the decriminalization measure clearly shows that “the sky didn’t fall,” according to the Panel. 

“Psilocybin in the United States isn’t so much an industry as it is a rapidly emerging ecosystem already influencing healthcare, politics, finance, technology, and religion, and has the potential to innovate and transform the landscape of American society,” the Panel’s report says, following their October meeting. “Because of this potential, much of the responsibility falls on lawmakers and policymakers to no longer deny human history, honor traditional psilocybin use, and ensure that future policy reform centers psilocybin access to populations who can benefit from it the most.”

Next Steps

Next, the Panel will present their report and their recommendations to the Denver City Council in November. Should the City Council approve of the recommendations, then they move to the Mayor, who will determine if they will become law or not. As more information becomes available, we will update you with the latest.

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