Denver Westword | The Leading Independent News Source in Denver, Colorado

Want to Get High and Help Science? These Colorado Trials Pay You to Try Cannabis or Psychedelics.

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 29, 2025

"People choose to participate in clinical trials because they see this as giving back something great."

Naropa University president Charles Lief (right) speaks at a Naropa retreat in 2022.

Naropa University Spins Off Psychedelic Clinic Into Memoru Center

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 24, 2025

Memoru Center for Visionary Healing Arts will conduct psychedelic facilitation training, clinical care and research in a new Boulder campus.

State-Mandated Indigenous Group Tells Colorado to Halt Psilocybin Therapy Program

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 18, 2025

The working group also asked the state to abstain from similar legal therapeutic programs for mescaline, ibogaine and DMT.

Psilocybin mushrooms and spores on display

Magic, Indeed? Psilocybin Mushrooms Might Extend Your Lifespan, Study Shows.

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jul 16, 2025

As psychedelic mushrooms hit their stride in mental health, a recent study showed they can extend the lives of human cells and mice, too.

Pamphlets on preparation and integration — the before and after of psychedelic therapy — on display at Etc Hospitality

Golden Psilocybin Healing Center Excited to Start Therapy Sessions

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 25, 2025

"We have a chance, in broad daylight, to show the safety and efficacy of psilocybin mushrooms."

Volumes 2 and 3 of Dystopian Times magazine

Local Artists Create Dystopian Times Magazine to Channel Eco-Socialist Activism

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 25, 2025

Representatives of the Marxist collective found community at the Psychedelic Science conference.

Sex and Psychedelics Converge in Downtown Denver Convention

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 24, 2025

"There's a lot of shame on how we work with these medicines. There's a lot of shame in what our kinks are."

Molly Sullan, Stacy Fischer, and Jim Grigsby from the CU Denver Center for Psychedelic Research discuss their projects

University of Colorado Takes Major Role in Psilocybin Research

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 20, 2025

Current studies include how psilocybin could treat palliative care patients, postpartum depression and more.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks at Psychedelic Science 2023 in Denver

Polis Pardons Old Magic Mushroom Convictions in Colorado

By Thomas Mitchell

Jun 18, 2025

The governor announced the pardons during a speech at the Psychedelic Science conference in downtown Denver earlier today.

Psilocybin chocolate bar piece and psilocybin capsules

Finding Colorado's Decriminalized Psychedelics (That Aren't Mushrooms)

By Herbert Fuego

Jun 18, 2025

Colorado decriminalized magic mushrooms as well as DMT, ibogaine, and mescaline, but the public knows significantly less about the latter three.

MAPS founder Rick Doblin at Psychedelic Science 2023 in Denver

Funky Town: Psychedelic Science Event Calendar in Denver

By Thomas Mitchell

Jun 17, 2025

From a kickoff concert at the Mission Ballroom to afterparties, dinners and magazine launches, there are plenty of psychedelic-centric events taking place this week.

New Colorado Law Enables Psychedelic Pardons, Statewide Study

By Thomas Mitchell

Jun 12, 2025

Most of the public data concerning psychedelics, which are still illegal at the federal level, is too broad and not based in Colorado, according to state officials.

Hand holds gold capped psilocybin mushroom

Is Trading Cannabis for Magic Mushrooms Legal in Colorado?

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 6, 2025

It's complicated, but one expert has a clear enough answer for the un-stoned.

Before Cancer Kills James Welch, a CU Psilocybin Trial Showed Him How to Live

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 3, 2025

After learning he had three years to live, Welch took a dose of psilocybin, put on blinders and listened to a playlist curated by researchers. "It changed my mental paradigm of life," he says.

Harm Reduction Org DanceSafe Ejects Denver-based Director

By Brendan Joel Kelley

Jun 2, 2025

The group, known for giving out drug testing kits, earplugs, and condoms at festivals, will maintain strong Denver connections

Moms on Mushrooms Group Banned From Instagram

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 27, 2025

The Denver-based group focuses on moms who may benefit from microdosing psilocybin and want more education.

Colorado Passed Five Marijuana and Psychedelics Bills in 2025

By Thomas Mitchell

May 15, 2025

Lawmakers introduced a measure proposing a higher dispensary purchasing limit, bills addressing the state's declining pot tax revenue, and one effort to severely limit marijuana and psilocybin product offerings.

Timothy Leary's Son, Zach, Releases Guide on Using Psychedelics

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 14, 2025

Leary will be in Boulder this week to discuss his new book and the evolving world of psychedelics, from DMT to LSD.

New Colorado Psychedelics Safety Campaign Targets Gen Z

By Brendan Joel Kelley

May 13, 2025

"From a public health perspective, we know that harm reduction strategies are effective, and we are supportive of the ‘Pause. Learn. Reflect.’ message approach."

Psychedelic Art-Inspired Airbnb Hummingbird Hill Hosts Mural-Tourists and More

By Teague Bohlen

May 6, 2025

It's like Meow Wolf, only you unpack your bags and stay a while.

Psychedelics

CU Denver Launching Psychedelic Training Program

Cannabis Calendar for the Week Ahead

Psychedelics

CU Denver Launching Psychedelic Training Program

Cannabis Calendar for the Week Ahead

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