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Published on November 12, 2024
Arapahoe County Opens Dialogue on Psilocybin Regulation Ahead of 2025 Legal OperationsSource: Arapahoe County

As Arapahoe County teeters on the edge of a new era with psilocybin and other "natural medicines" stepping out of the shadows, a set of proposed regulations is up for public scrutiny and eventual decision-making by local authorities. These regulations, which are set to be compatible with Colorado's legal framework established by 2022's Proposition 122, are specifically being considered for unincorporated areas of the county where state-licensed facilities administering these substances would be able to operate legally starting January 2025, according to Arapahoe County.

Under the proposed framework, such businesses would marry the allure of wellness with the regulatory acumen expected of traditional healthcare facilities, they would nestle into zones zoned for office uses, commercial, and industrial zones but there's a catch, they cannot be within 1,000 feet of schools, ranging from preschool to high school and day-care facilities, ensuring a geographical arm's-length from the young and impressionable. In tandem with these commercial caveats, the new regulations would cap the domestic cultivation of mushrooms to no more than the state-sanctioned 12 feet by 12 feet plot size, creating a defined boundary for personal use growth.

The county's Planning Commission is not turning a blind eye to public opinion on these matters and has scheduled a public hearing for November 19th at the Arapahoe Board Room at Arapahoe County Lima Plaza, aiming to open a dialogue and collect community input. Additionally, another platform for discourse is in the offing for November 26th, with the Board of County Commissioners set to hold their hearing in the East Hearing Room at the Administration Building, both opportunities presenting a venue for residents to express their views and concerns.