Veterans vs. Regulations: Colorado Springs’ Battle Over Psychedelic Healing Centers Heats Up!

As the clock ticks toward 2025, when healing centers in Colorado can legally begin selling pschedelic mushrooms for medicinal purposes, Colorado Springs is already laying the groundwork for local regulations. At the heart of the debate is a proposed city ordinance that would impose strict zoning rules, including a prohibition on opening these centers within a mile of schools or childcare facilities. For some, these measures are a necessary safeguard; for others, they represent a barrier to potentially life-saving therapies.

City officials, led by planning director Kevin Walker, emphasize that the ordinance aims to reflect community concerns about how and where psychedelic healing centers operate. 1“We felt like we needed to have an ordinance that reflected the community desires relative to where those things should be located and what time place in a manner that they ought to be operating in,” Walker explained.

The proposed restrictions mirror those imposed on cannabis dispensaries in the city, which have been used as a model for balancing accessibility with public safety.

Among the most vocal opponents of the ordinance are veterans and mental health advocates who see psilocybin as a critical tool for addressing treatment-resistant conditions like PTSD and depression. City Councilperson Nancy Henjum shared the story of a veteran who testified at a recent meeting, expressing frustration with traditional treatments and hope for a regulated, professional environment to access psilocybin.

2“They’ve tried everything else and on their own they’ve been experimenting with [psilocybin],” Henjum said. “They would rather have that experience and treatment with somebody who’s trained and knows what they’re doing and that’s what the healing centers would provide.”

For these advocates, healing centers represent more than just a place to access psilocybin. They symbolize a shift toward embracing alternative therapies for individuals who have been failed by conventional medicine.

Even before these centers open, interest in psilocybin is on the rise in Colorado Springs. Microvora, a local mushroom farm, has seen a steady influx of customers seeking grow kits, which allow individuals to cultivate magic mushrooms at home legally under Colorado law.

“There is definitely a good amount [of demand] each month and a steady stream of new people coming in,” said Patru Dumitru, Microvora’s owner. “I think people are finding out the rules about how they can grow them at home and it’s legal to do so in Colorado.”

While home-growing kits provide one route to psilocybin access, advocates argue that healing centers offer a safer, more structured alternative.

The debate in Colorado Springs highlights the complexities of regulating emerging treatments like psilocybin. On one hand, city officials aim to mitigate potential risks, such as unauthorized access or exposure to vulnerable populations. On the other, advocates stress the importance of ensuring that regulations do not become so restrictive that they undermine the very purpose of legalization.

Henjum has already indicated plans to propose an amendment to the ordinance at its second hearing, seeking to balance these competing priorities.

As Colorado Springs navigates this uncharted territory, the outcome of its regulatory decisions could set a precedent for how other municipalities approach the rollout of psilocybin healing centers. For now, the city finds itself at a crossroads, caught between cautious regulation and the urgent need for alternative mental health solutions.

The stories of those who stand to benefit—veterans grappling with PTSD, individuals battling treatment-resistant depression, and countless others—are a poignant reminder of what’s at stake.

Should Cities Regulate Psychedelic Healing Centers Like Cannabis Dispensaries?