Arapahoe County commissioners on Tuesday passed a set of regulations on psilocybin and other “natural medicine” businesses as the new year — and start of Colorado’s licensing of such businesses — approaches.
Approved by voters two years ago, Proposition 122 decriminalized the possession, use and cultivation of psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as “magic mushrooms,” making Colorado the second state in the nation to do so.
The proposition also decriminalized the use of certain plants and fungi for people 21 and older.
The state will start issuing licenses in January 2025, but the county can regulate the time, manner and place of such businesses, as long as the county’s regulations are reasonable and align with state laws.
Proposition 122 is unlike Amendment 64, which allowed retail marijuana in Colorado, in that it does not allow local jurisdictions to ban natural medicine businesses. Local jurisdictions are allowed to ban medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries and production facilities.
The new regulations come as an amendment to the county’s Land Development Code.
The regulations identify zone districts where businesses are allowed to provide services through state-licensed facilitators. Licensed centers are allowed to operate in areas zoned for office uses and other natural medicine businesses can operate in most commercial and industrial zone districts, according to the county.
Arapahoe County commissioners have unanimously approved a comprehensive set of regulations governing psilocybin businesses as Colorado prepares to begin licensing these operations in January 2025
