Colorado is once again pioneering in the burgeoning drug industry. Following its early lead in legalizing marijuana, the state is set to permit professionals to administer psychedelic mushroom trips from 2025, following in the footsteps of Oregon. However, some individuals are not content with waiting.
In an apartment close to downtown Denver, a former teacher, Ashley Ryan, has found a unique calling as a psychedelic guide. Here, she accompanies people on their psilocybin mushroom trips, employing the ethereal tones of a Tibetan singing bowl to help clients relax during their psychedelic journeys, where perceptions of reality can often distort.
Ryan’s guiding service is part of a flourishing psychedelic sector that has grown rapidly since Colorado voters passed Proposition 122 in November. The new law authorizes citizens to grow and use plants and fungi containing psychedelic substances such as psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline.
The use of the word “share” is essential in this context. Selling these psychedelics is illegal, but people like Ryan can distribute the drug for free and charge for related services, such as trip-guiding. This service has seen a surge in demand, with Ryan receiving growing interest from unexpected sources.
However, this burgeoning sector lacks licenses, testing, and regulation, triggering concerns for State Senate President Steve Fenberg, who fears potential federal government intervention. Since the legalization of marijuana, the understanding has been that regulation should prevent worst-case scenarios and keep the situation under control.
As a response, Colorado is devising rules for a regulated psychedelic industry. By 2025, licensed healing centers are projected to offer guided mushroom trips. In the interim, Fenberg has supported a new law aimed at curbing the expansion of the gray market.
Although Ashley Ryan can still receive payment for her time and distribute drugs, the new law does restrict her ability to advertise her business. This has raised concerns about potential impacts on her digital presence.
Others, like Travis Tyler Fluck, who teaches people how to microdose and supplies them with psilocybin, also worry about overregulation. He advocates for a supportive environment that encourages visibility rather than driving the industry underground, where harm can often occur.
Licensed clinical psychologist Jana Bolduan Lomax believes in the potential of psilocybin, especially for her clients facing terminal cancers. But she urges caution, as a psychedelic experience can swiftly shift from being enlightening to frightening. She’s currently training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and might eventually apply for one of Colorado’s formal psilocybin licenses.
The state’s psychedelic advisory board is currently collaborating with state regulators to devise rules for these licenses, which are expected to be released within the next year or so.
