The Colorado Natural Medicine Advisory Board was appointed on Jan. 17 by Gov. Jared Polis. More than 225 people submitted applications. Only 15 of those candidates were chosen.
The panel is a diverse assortment of clinical psychologists, psychoanalysts, medical researchers, lawyers, poets, mental fitness coaches and professions in between. The governor’s office has expressly denied press interviews with appointees.
The board’s purpose is to guide the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) in crafting the rules surrounding adult use of the five natural psychedelics Colorado recently legalized.
The board must submit recommendations to DORA by Sept. 30, 2023.
Here are the members, in the order described by the governor’s office.
William Dunn, NRP, FP-C is the chief clinical officer at Eagle County Paramedic Services. He will be “a representative of emergency medical services and services provided by the first responder.”
Billy Wynne, J.D. is a mindfulness teacher and founder of D.C.-based Impact Health, a health policy and advocacy firm. Wynne will “serve as a representative of health care insurance and health care policy and public health, drug policy and harm reduction.”
Sofia Chavez, Ph.D. is a board-certified doctor of natural medicine, master herbalist, and minister. She will “serve as a representative of traditional and indigenous use and religious use of natural medicine.”
Bradley Conner, Ph.D. is a CSU psychology professor and director of the addiction counseling program. He will “serve as a representative of natural medicine therapy, medicine, and research.”
Wendy Buxton-Andrade is a county commissioner from Prowers County, with a background in marketing. She will “serve as a representative of levels and disparities in access to health care services among different communities.”
Skippy Upton Mesirow is a mental health coach for elected officials and public servants and a past Aspen City Council member. Mesirow will “serve as a representative of permitted organization criteria.”
Ernestine Gonzales, Ph.D., M.A., M.S. We could find no publicly available background on Gonzalez, but she will “serve as a representative of mental health and behavioral health providers and disparities in access to health care services among different communities.”
Heather Lundy Nelson, M.A. is a licensed mental health clinician who did her orientation at Highlands Church in Denver. She will “serve as a representative of mental health and behavioral health providers and disparities in access to health care services among different communities.”
Suzanne Sisley, Ph.D. is the executive director of the Scottsdale Research Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona. She will “serve as a representative of mycology and natural medicine cultivation.”
Katina Banks, J.D. is a Denver attorney with expertise in intellectual property, technology transactions and corporate law. She will “serve as a representative of permitted organization criteria.”
Ricardo Baca is the CEO and founder of Grasslands P.R. and was the marijuana editor at the Denver Post for three years prior to that. Baca will “serve as a representative of traditional indigenous use and public health, drug policy and harm reduction.”
Alisa Hannum, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System who has extensive background working with PTSD victims. Her role on the advisory board will be to “serve as a representative of mental and behavioral health providers and issues confronting veterans.”
Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D. is a poet and a Jungian psychoanalyst. She will “serve as a representative of traditional indigenous use and religious use.”
Joshua Goodwin, Ph.D. is the founder and CEO of Operation True North Colorado, a behavioral health services organization. He will “serve as a representative of issues confronting veterans.”
Sheriff David Lucero of Pueblo is a 22-year law enforcement veteran. He will “serve as a representative of past criminal justice reform in Colorado.”
