Colorado is busy handing out licenses for psychedelic-assisted therapists, the healing centers where they’ll work and the programs that will teach them how to guide clients through a psilocybin session. From just a handful of licenses in December, as of mid-March there were more than five dozen licensed facilitators, centers and training regimes, as well as facilities to grow, sell and test psychedelic mushrooms for providers.
While the state ramps up its approval process, counties and towns throughout Colorado have been busy preparing for natural medicine businesses. Under state law, local municipalities can control the zoning regulations that determine where facilities locate and when they operate.
Here’s a look at how local governments are handling natural medicine businesses so far, compiled by Boulder Weekly with help from Sean McCallister, a lawyer specializing in psychedelic regulations.
(Mostly) following the state’s lead
Boulder
On Jan. 9, Boulder passed Ordinance 8665, treating healing centers like any other medical offices when it comes to land use and zoning. Cultivation, product manufacturing and testing facilities will be zoned as light manufacturing.
All natural medicine facilities must be at least 1,000 feet from any elementary schools, preschools and child care facilities, consistent with state law, and 500 feet from any junior, middle and high schools — a slight variance allowed under Colorado regulations.
The ordinance did not address operating hours.
“City council specifically did not want to restrict the hours of operation of natural medicine businesses,” Senior Policy Advisor Karl Guiler wrote in response to emailed questions, “so no limitation on hours was put into the code.”
Erie
Erie passed its regulations in mid-November 2024. They copied exactly the state’s 1,000-foot buffer from schools and child care facilities and added a buffer for residential properties. Any natural medicine business must be at least 250 feet from a home.
The town’s regulations also set operating hours for healing centers (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and all other natural medicine businesses (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
Louisville
Healing centers in Louisville will be zoned similar to medical offices and all other natural medicine businesses (grows, testing labs and manufacturing) as industrial. All are subject to the state’s 1,000-foot restriction when locating near schools or child care.
The city also added operating hours into its early December ordinance: 6 a.m. to midnight.
Lafayette
Lafayette allows healing centers in commercial, business and industrial districts, and other licensed facilities in industrial zones. They will follow the state’s setback rules.
Hours of operation for healing centers, as defined in city code, are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. “unless the participant is unable to leave the premises by 10 p.m. due to an ‘adverse health event’ as defined” under state law.
Colorado’s natural medicine rules define an adverse health event as “any untoward and unexpected health condition or medical occurrence associated with the use of natural medicine or natural medicine product.”
Other cities taking this approach: Fort Collins, Denver
Still in the works
Longmont
“This issue is still very fluid,” Longmont spokesperson Rogelio Mares III wrote in response to an emailed request for comment. “I do believe they are still sorting out what regulations will be put in place.”
Late last year, Planning Manager Don Burchett told McCallister the city would likely treat healing centers like other medical offices.
Boulder County
Per spokesperson Richard Hackett, “staff is in the process of reviewing our current land use regulations to determine whether amendments will be necessary to regulate this use in unincorporated Boulder County.”
Superior
When reached by phone, Planning & Building Director Lisa Ritchie said Superior hadn’t taken up these regulations yet. Municipalities have until 2025 to finalize rules.
If no local zoning rules are in place, state regulators will issue a license after confirming that all applicable Colorado and local requirements are met.
Taking a time out
Nederland
In January, the Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to put a moratorium on licensing any natural medicine businesses until the town could complete its comprehensive plan. An updated comprehensive plan was approved March 4.
Town staff told trustees new rules could be in place by the summer. The moratorium lasts through Dec. 31, unless the board votes to end it early.
Other municipalities taking this approach: Berthoud