COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — As Colorado becomes the second state to legalize psychedelic therapy this week, a clash is playing out in Colorado Springs, where conservative leaders are restricting the treatment over objections from some of the city’s 90,000 veterans, who’ve become flagbearers for psychedelic therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
Colorado residents voted to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the chemical compound found in psychedelic mushrooms, in a 2022 ballot measure, launching two years of rulemaking before it could be used to treat conditions such as depression and PTSD. This week, companies and people will be able to apply for licenses to administer the mind-altering drug, though treatment will likely not be available for some months as applications are processed.
At a City Council meeting, members were set to vote on extending the state prohibition on healing centers from 1,000 feet to 1 mile from certain locations, such as schools. From the lectern, veterans implored them not to, arguing that the restrictions effectively limit the number of centers and would mean longer waiting lists for the treatment.
Veterans have pulled in some conservative support for psychedelic therapy, managing to set it apart from other politically charged drug policies such as legalizing marijuana. However, allowing broader access to the treatment hasn’t been easy for most city council members, including three who are veterans.
The Colorado Springs City Council passed the proposed restrictions, with some members expressing concerns about the lack of FDA approval for psilocybin to treat mental health conditions. The FDA has rejected psychedelic MDMA to treat PTSD, and some researchers worry that waiting on slow-moving bureaucracy carries its own risks as people continue to struggle with mental illnesses.
Advocates argue that psychedelic therapy offers an option to those for whom talk therapy alone and antidepressants have not helped, and some veterans have reported life-changing results from the treatment. Lane Belone, a special forces veteran, said that a psychedelic experience with psilocybin helped him connect the fear that attached to him in the war zone to the ceaseless anxiety at home.
Despite the potential benefits, experts warn that the field remains in its early stages, and there are risks involved, including customers being misled and paying out of pocket for expensive treatments. The Colorado Springs City Council’s decision to restrict healing centers is just the latest in a series of challenges for the Move to legalize psychedelic therapy in the United States.