Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed a bill on May 23 that establishes a regulatory framework for narcotic substances.
SB23-290, also known as the regulation and legalization of natural medicine, was signed into law only a few weeks after it was approved in the senate with the house amendments. The bill was sponsored by Senator Stephen Feinberg and Rep. Judy Amabile, and is set to go into effect as of July 1st.
the Colorado Times Recorder I spoke with Tasia Poinsatte, director of the Healing Advocacy Fund in Colorado, last month about the bill’s potential. “Our state is facing a mental health crisis, and our current system is unable to meet the needs of those who struggle, including the many veterans in our state who are at high risk of suicide,” Poinsat said. “Colorado voters agreed with the passage of Prop. 122 that we need to open up new and innovative pathways to healing for those with mental health conditions.”
Law no place Restrictions on personal possession For any narcotic, starting with dimethyltryptamine (DMT), mescaline, ibogaine, psilocybin, or psilocin. Psilocybin and psilocin will be given in the “healing centers”, but it is allowed to add other substances later.
The bill also states that anyone under the age of 21 who possesses or consumes a natural medicine product will only be subject to a fine of $100 or less, and a maximum of four hours of “drug abuse education or counseling.” More than one offense results in the same fine and education requirements, with the addition of 24 hours of “useful public service”.
Cultivation of natural medicine is permitted if it takes place on one’s private property in an area of 12 by 12 feet. However, any unauthorized and “knowingly made” [a] A natural medicine product that uses an inherently hazardous substance” is to commit a Level 2 drug-related felony. “Inherently hazardous substance” refers to solvents such as butane, propane, and diethyl ether.
The bill also includes consumer protections, stating that not only does a person using a natural medicine constitute child abuse or neglect, it is not grounds for denial of health coverage, and it does not preclude a person from experiencing discrimination if they do. Eligible for organ donation, and “must not be considered for public assistance benefits.”
A person with a naturopathic conviction is also entitled to have the conviction record stamped “immediately after a later date of final disposition or supervised release.”
The bill calls for the creation of a Natural Medicine Advisory Board to examine “issues relating to natural medicine and natural medicine products, and to make recommendations to the Director of the Division of Professions and Professions and the Executive Director of the State Licensing Authority.” It also requires a naturopathic division to be created within the revenue division to regulate the licensing of “cultivation, manufacture, testing, storage, distribution, transportation, transportation, and dispensing of natural medicine or natural medicine product among naturopathic licensees.”
Colorado voters passed Proposition 122, also referred to as Natural Medicine Health Actby 52.64% last November to decriminalize the drug. “This is a historic moment for both the people of Colorado and our country,” said the director of the Natural Medicine Alliance of Colorado. Kevin Mathews. “I think this shows that voters here in Colorado are ready for new options and another option for healing, especially when it comes to their mental and behavioral health.”
The initiative entered into force December 2022. “The Coloradans voted last November and they participated in our democracy,” Polis said. “Formal endorsement of the citizen outcomes and initiatives indicated is the next formal step in our work to follow through on the will of voters and implement these voter-approved actions.”
cover from westword It shows that advocates are not happy with the law, pointing out that it is too restrictive. According to sponsor Amabile, the bill is strong but won’t make everyone happy. Amabile said meeting in late April. “It has a lot of aspects that some people like. It has aspects that people who like some parts of it don’t like. It has parts that no one likes.”
