On Monday, the state’s Natural Medicine Division issued an operational license to The Center Origin, a wellness center located at 1440 Blake St., Suite 330 in Denver. The business expects to begin offering psilocybin-assisted therapy to adults by late April, said co-founder and CEO Elizabeth Cooke.

Cooke opened The Center Origin in Denver in 2023 with a roster of practitioners specializing in yoga, massage, breathwork and reiki. Her goal was to build a community and brand recognition in anticipation of psychedelic therapy becoming legally available.

The Center Origin will soon shift to make psychedelic-assisted therapy its primary offering, complete with preparation, administration, and integration sessions. It will also offer “microdosing support” and a range of psychedelic-focused community events, like weekly integration circles, a book club, and mycology classes, per a statement.

Additionally, clients will have access to providers of gentle yoga, Thai massage, sound baths, breathwork, meditation and aromatherapy, before or after their guided trip, to enhance the therapeutic experience, Cooke said.

In controlled studies, large doses of psilocybin – the psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms” – have shown promise in treating mental heath conditions such as severe depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. Beyond research settings, Americans have sought out psychedelic-assisted therapy underground for help managing mental health ailments and for spiritual development.

In 2022, Colorado became the second state, behind Oregon, to legalize the service and make it more accessible. The first licenses for this nascent industry were issued to prospective business owners earlier this year. The Center Origin is the first business to be approved by the state.

“We are honored to lead the way in bringing regulated psychedelic services to Colorado,” Cooke said in a statement. “This licensure represents not only a major step forward in mental health treatment and individual and community healing, but also a commitment to safety, education, and responsible care for those exploring the therapeutic and transformative potential of psychedelics.”

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That’s part of the intention of these so-called “immersive” art installations – to transport guests to another world using all the senses. But Meow Wolf management is keenly aware that some guests may feel overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and tactile sensations.

In 2023, the company achieved Certified Autism Center status at each of its locations by completing a certification process and training with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). Meow Wolf sought this certification to ensure the exhibits are welcoming and accessible to everyone, said Melissa Gassien, director of operations for Denver’s Convergence Station.

“As we learn and grow and understand more about the accessibility needs of travelers, we keep adapting and growing to make sure we’re providing the best experience possible,” she said. “There’s so much new technology and unique apps and things just that make it easy to provide that experience to everyone.”

Part of the process involved training Meow Wolf employees on how to identify and interact with autistic individuals and other guests who may be experiencing overstimulation. Techniques include watching for people covering their ears, finding spaces to talk where no one is shouting over the house audio, letting visitors drive conversations about their comfort levels, and accommodating guests with tools like noise reduction headphones, sunglasses and sensory toys.

The training was geared toward individuals with intellectual disabilities, though some of the skills would apply to working with folks who may be intoxicated and overstimulated. It’s no secret that Meow Wolf is one of the trippiest places in Denver, and it hosts numerous psychedelic events, including the upcoming acid-inspired Bicycle Day celebration in April.

The company doesn’t condone drug use at its facilities, but security teams are prepared to de-escalate situations where people might be overwhelmed, Gassien said.

“This is absolutely where our security team would come in and just have conversations. Just kind of say, ‘Where are you at? How can we help make sure you have water, that you have a place to sit down? … How can we help facilitate that you’re comfortable?’” she said.

There are also specific rooms within Meow Wolf’s exhibits that offer calmer and quieter environments, some with no background noise at all. In Denver’s Convergence Station, Gassien points to the Blue Sound Spa in the Ossuary, which features blue tile from floor to ceiling and a soothing audio soundtrack. There is also a guest services lounge on the first floor where staff can escort people who need to decompress (it doubles as a room for breastfeeding).

Expect “white walls, some plants in there, a couch, kind of more of a calming space that just is like, OK, this is going to remind you of your living room,” Gassien said.

Convergence Station inhabits a massive 90,000 square feet across multiple floors. So if someone needs a break from the stimuli quickly, they can find a stairwell as a last resort.

“If you need an instant kind of take out of world, the stairwells are a little more of a visually muted space, but there is still light audio in there,” Gassien said.

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Senate Bill 76, introduced in January, proposed myriad new regulations for the state’s industries dealing with intoxicating substances, such as cannabis and psilocybin. Most notably, the bill sought to raise the legal age to purchase marijuana products with more than 10% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency to 26 from 21.

The bill was postponed indefinitely in mid-March because “we didn’t have the support we needed,” Sen. Judy Amabile, a Boulder Democrat and one of the bill’s sponsors, said by email.

The bill’s goal, she said, was to prioritize public health and address concerns related to young adults’ use of high-potency cannabis concentrates, some of which can be up to 80% or 90% THC.

“I believe that if Colorado’s marijuana industry would diversify to offer a greater percentage of lower-potency products, while also making clear the risks of consuming higher-potency products, we would see better outcomes for consumer safety and overall industry success,” Amabile said. “SB25-076 was an attempt to move us in that direction.”

Cannabis advocates criticized the bill in the weeks after it was introduced, saying it infringed on voters’ rights and threatened to push consumers to purchase weed on the illicit market.

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Denver Shroom Fest, a celebration of psychedelic mushroom culture, will not go on as planned in 2025.

On Thursday, organizers announced the second annual event, which was scheduled for June 15, has been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances and some bad luck.” Co-founder Jonathan Cherkoss suggested the festival may not return in future years either.

“Denver Shroom Fest was a huge success, and collaborating with Colorado’s vibrant mushroom community was an incredible experience. Though a sequel may not be in the cards, stay tuned for more psychedelic events in the future,” Cherkoss said in a statement emailed to The Denver Post.

Denver Shroom Fest was preparing to welcome psychedelic enthusiasts, mushroom growers and more back to ReelWorks in RiNo after a successful inaugural year.

In 2024, the event marked something of a coming-above-ground party for the local psychedelics community. There were educational talks, live music and free samples of mushroom products – all possible because psilocybin is now decriminalized in Colorado.

If Denver Shroom Fest had happened on June 15, it would have taken place around the same time as Psychedelic Science, a massive conference focused on research, policy, and business, coming to the Colorado Convention Center from June 16 to 20.

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The lawsuit, filed in Denver District Court on Monday by cultivator and manufacturer Mammoth Farms, accuses the division of ignoring companies that are diverting legal weed to illicit markets in other states, and punishing whistleblowers who try to raise concerns.

It also alleges the agency’s marijuana tracking and testing protocols are insufficient to identify bad actors and allow potentially dangerous products to reach cannabis consumers.

The Marijuana Enforcement Division does not comment on pending litigation, a spokesperson said by email Wednesday.

In its lawsuit, Mammoth Farms alleges that some licensed companies in Colorado are substituting hemp-derived tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) for marijuana in regulated products using methods that should get flagged by the state enforcement division. That’s an issue because while both hemp and marijuana are cannabis plants, distinguished only by their cannabinoid content, they are regulated differently.

Hemp is an agricultural product that’s legal nationwide, while marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug at the federal level. The plants are treated as two separate products in two separate industries with supply chains that are not supposed to comingle.

One way Mammoth Farms alleges that is happening is through the use of so-called “ghost tags” that create fake inventory in Metrc, Colorado’s system that tracks marijuana production from seed to sale.

“When a cultivation sells a ghost tag to a manufacturer, it falsely reports a sale of marijuana in Metrc, often at a nominal price, leading MED to believe that the manufacturer has purchased legally cultivated marijuana. The manufacturer then labels its Converted THC (from hemp) for sale as THC naturally derived from that non-existent marijuana,” the lawsuit says.

The complaint also states that, in 2023, Mammoth Farms twice alerted the Marijuana Enforcement Division to a “ghost facility” in Moffat that was selling cannabis distillate without having the necessary equipment to extract it. The agency did not investigate the facility in a timely manner, the lawsuit alleges. Eventually, regulators tested the company’s products and found the presence of a solvent called methylene chloride, which is used in a chemical process to convert cannabidiol (CBD) from hemp into THC.

In June 2024, the state issued a recall on vape cartridges that tested positive for methylene chloride.

“We simply hope to see the MED take the proper steps in order to protect public safety, cannabis consumers and licensed business operators,” Justin Trouard, CEO of Mammoth Farms, said by email. “The MED is aware of the issues brought up in the suit as well as the damage these problems have caused. It is shocking to see no effort on their part, and that is why we believe that a change in leadership at the department is necessary for the safety of cannabis consumers and the future of our state’s cannabis industry.”

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People who are interested in trying a therapeutic dose in Colorado will need to go to licensed businesses known as healing centers and connect with accredited guides called facilitators.

In Oregon, the only other state where psychedelic-assisted therapy is legal, patients typically take a large dose of mushrooms before putting on an eye mask and headphones and lying down to experience the trip — which can take up to six or eight hours. The facilitators are there to help their patients navigate intense or challenging emotions and to assist should they need to move around while under the influence.

Sessions can be costly since individuals pay for a facilitator’s time and the drugs provided onsite. In Oregon, a psilocybin session costs upward of $1,000.

But some of Colorado’s prospective healing center owners have ideas about other ways to offer their services. That includes one who hopes to build a space for microdosing, as well as others seeking to pair psychedelic-assisted therapy with other wellness techniques like yoga.

We spoke with seven people who have applied for healing center licensure so locals can understand the variety of approaches coming to Colorado’s psychedelic therapy landscape.

Private practices

Psychedelic therapy is billed as a medical treatment, so it’s no surprise that existing mental health professionals plan to add it to their practices.

Alison Lee, co-owner of Reset LLC in Centennial, has been a licensed counselor for about 15 years, working with both kids and parents. During the pandemic, however, she decided to switch her focus and explore how psychedelics could help heal trauma, specifically generational trauma that gets passed down through families.

Lee is working on obtaining her facilitator license so she can guide clients through large-dose trips, as well as provide preparation and integration sessions to book-end those experiences. She and her husband Josh purchased the condo now home to Reset LLC and renovated it from a call center to a “cozy, safe space” where these journeys will take place. Lee plans to hire additional facilitators to expand the healing center’s client capacity.

Even though this treatment is now legal, Lee said there’s still a taboo around psychedelics. She hopes to help the public understand more about them and offer something new to her patients who have tried traditional approaches without success.

“I am excited for a tool in my therapy toolbox that I feel most confident is going to help the most amount of people,” Lee said.

Counselor Dori Lewis has been offering ketamine therapy at her group practice, Reflective Healing in Fort Collins, for several years. Lewis hopes to add psilocybin therapy soon because psychedelics make natural complements to transpersonal psychotherapy, which explores how individuals experience “interconnectedness to our environment, to our community and beyond,” she said.

While Reflective Healing does not exclusively offer psychedelic-assisted therapy, Lewis sees it as a valuable addition to other modalities. In addition to working with ketamine and psilocybin, Lewis is also trained to administer MDMA therapy, though it’s not yet legal. She participated in clinical trials by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

“My dream is that I will have MDMA, mushrooms, and ketamine available so that we can create treatment plans that meet the needs of the unique person sitting in front of us,” she said. “Psychedelics are a great tool, but in and of themselves are not enough. It’s a tapestry of healing that we hope to be able to provide.”

Additionally, Lewis co-founded one of Colorado’s approved training programs, called Elemental Psychedelics, so Reflective Healing intends to be a practicum space for aspiring facilitators.

Holistic wellness centers

Several Coloradans want to open healing centers that integrate psychedelics into other wellness practices.

Go Within Collective in Lakewood, for example, plans to be home base for independent facilitators who specialize in treating various health conditions. Co-founder and CEO Jillian Gordon’s expertise is in using psychedelics to help individuals experiencing chronic pain and creating healing spaces for men. Other practitioners in the Go Within Collective’s network specialize in end-of-life care and acute trauma, she said.

Gordon’s vision is to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy alongside other mindfulness and therapeutic practices, such as yoga, meditation, breathwork, and somatic therapy and movement. Retreats and mushroom cultivation classes are also part of the plan.

Over the last five years, Gordon has worked in the psychedelic underground, but she wants to transition into the regulated industry, firstly, so Colorado’s newly licensed facilitators have a place to work. (That was a challenge in Oregon, where the number of facilitators outpaced the number of service centers where they could be employed.) Gordon also hopes to inspire others to join the industry and raise the standard of care.

“I do feel a responsibility to a certain degree to make sure my community is held accountable,” Gordon said. “For me, honestly, it’s a calling.”

Elizabeth Cooke opened The Center Origin in Denver in 2023 with a roster of practitioners specializing in yoga, massage, breathwork and reiki. Her goal was to build a community and brand recognition in anticipation of psychedelic therapy becoming available.

While the business model will soon shift primarily to facilitated trips, Cooke plans to offer clients access to providers of the aforementioned services to enhance their therapeutic experiences, either as part of the preparation process or as part of integration afterward. She expects to offer one-on-one guidance, as well as group sessions.

Cooke, who previously worked as a social worker and co-founded cannabis edibles company Coda Signature, said part of her long-term vision includes being able to make and sell microdosing products, mushroom chocolates and gummies.

“Coming online with this, it seemed like a combination of everything – it’s bringing my entire career together,” she said. “To me, a healing center is able to provide the most to people.”

Spiritual retreat centers

Aside from the potential medical applications, many people use psychedelics for self-exploration or as spiritual and religious conduits.

Arvada resident Austin Mao has spent the last three years building a “church,” called Ceremonia, as a space for people seeking mystical or transcendental experiences using psychedelics. The church hosts multi-day retreats that include workshops and one or more psilocybin “ceremonies,” Mao said.

Ceremonia doesn’t offer one-on-one guidance. Instead, it brings together groups, which makes it more affordable for participants, Mao said, and offers them an embedded support system.

“In speaking with longstanding psychedelic therapists and leadership, the consensus that we have is that peer support and group work is the future of not only psychedelic healing but also therapy,” he said.

Additionally, Mao created one of Colorado’s approved training programs called Ceremonia Edu, so the church intends to be a practicum space for aspiring facilitators.

A microdosing coffee shop

While guided trips on large doses of mushrooms may be suitable for some, Jeff Parton and Manon Manoeuvre believe smaller dosing options are more approachable to a broader demographic. That’s why their Denver business, Vivid Minds Coffee & Tea House, will focus on microdosing.

Their concept includes two separate spaces. The first is a coffee shop serving drinks with non-psychedelic “functional” mushrooms, where the owners expect to host educational classes on psychedelics. The second is a lounge with stations for painting, games, and journaling so people can take microdoses and indulge their creativity. The plan includes having several facilitators on hand at any given time to accommodate both individuals and groups.

“That will just change the dynamic of mushrooms and psychedelic healing in so many different ways. The fact that you’re in a coffee shop, you get your little latte and your biscuit and you go downstairs and you can choose what activity you want to do and what medicine you want to try,” said Manoeuvre, who is working on obtaining her facilitator license.

“I see in the future psilocybin bachelorette parties,” she added.

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As of Thursday afternoon, the Department of Revenue’s Natural Medicine Division had approved seven license applications for prospective business owners, including one who wants to open a psilocybin mushroom cultivation and another who hopes to operate a healing center. Additionally, the division issued one license to a local who hopes to work in the nascent industry.

The licenses mark the first step in Colorado’s rollout of a legal psychedelic-assisted therapy industry. Although individuals have received approval from the state, each respective business also needs to be issued a license before it can begin operating. So far, no business licenses have received approval from the Natural Medicine Division, according to state data. Still, regulators at the agency expect the public could have legal access to services in this space as soon as spring.

Greeley resident Troy Leonard is among the first people to have his application approved. The 33-year-old Marine Corps veteran is the CEO of a company called Valor Minds, which seeks to open a small mushroom cultivation facility in Englewood to supply licensed healing centers.

Leonard said he struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and found relief from his symptoms through microdosing with psilocybin mushrooms. He and a business partner have been growing them for several years to share with other local veterans, and he hopes more will consider psychedelics as a mental health tool.

“It’s a huge thing to me” to be able to enter the industry, Leonard tells The Denver Post. “Probably one of the greatest things I’ve done with my life besides fighting for the country.”

Jillian Gordon also recently received an owner’s license. Gordon is the co-founder and CEO of Go Within Collective, a prospective healing center in Lakewood that intends to offer psilocybin-assisted therapy alongside other mindfulness practices like yoga, meditation and breathwork. The facility is expected to be a hub for individual practitioners who specialize in treating various conditions, she said.

Gordon, who is also a health and wellness coach, has spent the last five-plus years in the psychedelic underground working primarily with people who experience chronic pain. She wants to transition into the regulated industry to ensure facilitators meet a mutually agreed-upon standard of care. Licensure feels like a validation of the hard work the community has put into making that a reality, she said.

“I’m looking forward to the level of accountability that is ahead… instead of doing the best we can with what we have, actually having a set of standards to follow,” Gordon said. “We can openly collaborate so the level of safety is higher and safe access is readily available for people.”

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