Denver’s Psilocybin Policy Panel and the Magic Mushroom Debate

Denver’s making headlines again by forming the world’s first “Psilocybin Mushroom Policy Review Panel.” The 11-person panel is a direct follow-up to the city’s passing of Initiated Ordinance 301 (I-301) in May 2019, which effectively decriminalized psilocybin mushrooms in Denver. In the months that followed, I-301, which was created by Decriminalize Denver (since rebranded as “SPORE”), inspired similar campaigns in numerous states. At this point, nearly 100 cities have stated their intention to decriminalize not only psilocybin, but all “naturally-occurring” psychedelics.