With Colorado voters’ recent passage of a Natural Medicine ballot initiative, the state legislature and regulatory agencies have been tasked with developing rules and guidelines for using Natural Medicine (specifically psychedelics) across the state. The expansion of access to Natural Medicine has the potential to offer healing to those who have struggled to find clinical support through long-established medical treatment and pharmaceuticals. Newer research shows the promise for Natural Medicines such as psilocybin (mushrooms), mescaline (peyote), and DMT (ayahuasca), to treat a broad range of conditions, including PTSD, treatment-resistant anorexia, addiction, and psychiatric support for cancer patients.
At the same time, we must remain mindful of the Indigenous traditions and rituals that are associated with Natural Medicine. Cultural appropriation and cultural theft could disadvantage Indigenous wisdom holders who have deep relationships with these Medicines. As a result, businesses and investors who want to engage in this field should do so in a manner that does not cause unintentional harm to Indigenous people.
This presentation, led by a managing partner of a small startup whose shared ownership is woman and BIPOC-owned, will provide a landscape of the regulations that are currently being developed in Colorado, cultural considerations, and investment opportunities in this emerging field. Lessons learned from the rollout of the cannabis market can be helpful in recognizing potential pitfalls and risks as Natural Medicine becomes more widely available in Colorado and beyond.
