The news that Colorado has become the first US state to decriminalize certain psychedelics is a cause for cautious optimism. In November, Colorado passed Proposition 122, known as the Natural Medicine Health Act, which states that dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, mescaline (excluding peyote), psilocybin, and psilocin are now considered “natural medicine” and will be decriminalized for individuals 21 years of age or older.

This groundbreaking move marks a significant step forward in recognizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and giving people access to them without fear of criminalization.

Among these, ibogaine is has the greatest potential to help individuals go beyond merely a psychedelic experience, and access true perception into their own psyche, history, traumas, and potential. But what does the Colorado news mean for the ability for actually have more ways to get access to ibogaine treatment?

Will ibogaine be legal in Colorado?

The recent decriminalization of ibogaine in Colorado is a major step forward for the advancement of herbal medicine-based treatments.

That said, it’s important to note that this is but a step toward Colorado Legalizing Psychedelics in a fuller sense, and does yet facilitate a world where individuals are able to receive expert treatment in the state.

As anyone who reads our blog knows, getting people treatment they deserve is our more passionate desire, so we watch the space closely when it comes to states moving forward on ibogaine.

Scientific studies, and the work done at Ibogaine Clinic Inc. have proven time and again, that ibogaine can indeed help people with substance abuse issues, PTSD, and other brain-anchored disorders. This powerful medicinal plant can also be effective in treating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, up to and including Alzheimer’s.

This millennia-old medicine, originally used by Central American natives as an herbal plant, has gained widespread popularity in the field of mental health, trauma, addiction and alcoholism due to its curative effects. This is one of the reasons it is included in these legislations.

A world in which it is fully legal to administer ibogaine in Colorado is on the horizon, but there is still work to be done (and patience required) before real facilities will open to serve people directly in the area. For the moment, going to locations like Mexico for detox options is still the best choice.

How and when will ibogaine treatment centers in Colorado be able to open?

Under the new legislation, personal use, possession and cultivation of substances like ibogaine is now not a criminal offense but rather a “petty offense” with no jail time and no criminal record.

However, unlike with cannabis legalization in Colorado, this law does not permit any retail sales and instead will allow for the establishment of “healing centers” where people can pay to use these drugs within a supervised environment.

To set these rules into motion, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has appointed a Natural Medicine Advisory Board who are experts in various fields such as mycology, medicine, public health, insurance, religion and criminal justice reform to offer their advice regarding psychedelics-related laws.

The state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies then consults with this board to develop requirements for training, education and qualifications for facilitators who manage these healing centers. Further regulations must also be unveiled by September 30th 2024 when applications from facilitators for the centers start being accepted.

Also, it’s important to note: only psilocybin and psilocyn will be allowed at the healing centers; other decriminalized drugs may be considered later on down the line.

With this new law Colorado has joined the likes of Oregon in setting up guidelines for responsible psychedelics use which could open more doors in research related to psychedelics-assisted therapy as well as recreational use when used responsibly under proper supervision. It will certainly be interesting to see how this initiative progresses over the coming years, and certainly, we will continue to work to be at the forefront of the progress in this area.

Colorado is not the only state to decriminalize ibogaine

Colorado and Oregon have both taken huge strides in legalizing psychedelic medicine for therapeutic purposes, becoming the first two states to do so. In 2020, Colorado approved a controversial ballot measure allowing mental health professionals to prescribe psychedelic-assisted therapy to their patients.

Meanwhile, Oregon’s ballot measure is less sweeping, but still allows for psychedelic-assisted therapy—a move that many experts see as a crucial step towards legalization.

The approaches taken by each state offer insight into how similar efforts could play out in other states. For example, some praise Colorado’s measure for its progressive outlook on mental health care and its potential to reduce reliance on psychiatric medications with serious side effects; while others criticize it as potentially unsafe if not properly monitored by medical professionals.

On the other hand, Oregon’s approach is strictly focused on therapeutic use and has more stringent regulations regarding prescribing and obtaining psychedelics.

More states are certain to follow both Colorado and Oregon’s lead in the coming months and years and the use of psychedelics in medicine will become more commonplace.

It remains to be seen if both states’ legislation will lead to better outcomes for those struggling with mental illness—but the moves made by Colorado and Oregon should certainly be watched closely as they pave the way towards a brighter future of plant-based medicine.

How specifically does Colorado’s legislation differ from Oregon’s policy on substances?

In 2020, Oregon passed Ballot Measure 109, which decriminalized the personal use of many drugs. While the measure did reduce these offenses to a “Class E” felony and allowed for fines, it also opened the door for other forms of decriminalization. Colorado’s Proposition decriminalized the possession, growth, transportation, and sharing of various plants containing DMT, psilocybin, ibogaine, and mescaline (excluding peyote).

Thanks to this new law many supporters of criminal justice reform and harm reduction are now able to enjoy some relief from prosecution or punitive measures.

When it comes to adult use however things become slightly more complex. Under Ballot Measure 109 Oregon created a system that would allow for regulation regarding the manufacturing, transportation delivery, sale and purchase of psilocybin products as well as services related to them. This will lead to more options than what was previously available in terms of drug use in Oregon. In addition it could lead to better safety protocols due to increased oversight by local authorities in regards to recreational drug use.

This step towards decriminalization is a huge win for proponents of harm reduction efforts who have long argued that focusing on addiction treatment instead of punitive measures has proven beneficial in reducing drug-related crimes and overdoses over time.

Furthermore, this could open up further opportunities for research into psychedelic substances as they can now be studied with less legal impediments while providing necessary protection against potential abuse or misuse. All in all this is an important step forward in terms of changing how society looks at recreational drug use in general but especially when it comes to tackling addiction problems head on with fewer legal barriers getting in their way.

Under the Oregon law, all adults are now able to use psilocybin without the need for a medical diagnosis or the supervision of a medical professional. Instead, they can partake in using the substance with a “psilocybin facilitator” who is trained to provide guidance and support.

As is evident, when it comes to legalizing natural medicine, the approach taken by Colorado and Oregon are markedly different. In Colorado, Proposition 122 has established a Regulated Natural Medicine Access Program, which will allow for licensed healing centers to offer natural medicine services. However, in Oregon the facilitators of these services are not required to undergo as rigorous medical training as psychiatrists or nurse practitioners — this is mainly due to the fact that they don’t need to treat mental health disorders.

On the other hand, an advisory board from both states will work together with their respective Department of Regulatory Agencies to determine what kind of training facilitators must go through — if any at all. Colorado’s regulations in this regard will likely be more stringent than those imposed by Oregon’s governing body, since they will be dealing with licensed healing centers administering natural medicines.

So, what’s next for ibogaine treatment in the U.S.?

The issue of regulation when it comes to natural medicines is always complex and ever-changing. As more states explore ways in which they can provide this form of healthcare while protecting citizens from potential harm or misuse, it’s important they take into account the specific needs of their local population and create systems that meet their demands while adhering to relevant state laws.

While the Colorado news is heartening, there is still much work to be done. We are working tirelessly to educate people on the life-changing effects we are able to see at our facility, and we urge those committed to the cause of expanding ibogaine accessibility in the U.S. get in touch, and contact us to discover more ways to collaborate.

With enough effort and commitment from those involved in creating these regulations, hopefully we can create effective regulatory structures that protect citizens while enabling them access the kind of healthcare they desire.

As always, we invite anyone to call us at 1-800-818-4511 to learn more about treatment, or about our work record and expand ibogaine knowledge worldwide.

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