During the Psychedelic Science 2025 Conference, Colorado Governor Jared Polis made a notable announcement regarding the state’s drug policy. Governor Polis revealed that the state will pardon individuals previously convicted of possessing psilocybin or psilocin. This action builds upon Colorado's measures to decriminalize so-called natural medicine and structure a regulatory framework for it, a mandate from the voters in 2022.
"Colorado has been a national leader in breaking through outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are doing the same for natural medicine. This action eliminates past state-level convictions for psilocybin and psilocin possession that would be legal today. With these pardons, we are fulfilling the will of Colorado voters and, moving away from ineffective drug policy and encouraging local municipalities to follow suit," Governor Polis stated at the conference, as per the Colorado Governor's Office. The Governor’s Office attached no prerequisites for individuals to seek these pardons, nor did they assess the pardoned individuals on a case-by-case basis.
According to the Colorado Governor's Office, this broad act of clemency reflects Colorado’s progression post the signing of SB25-297, the Implementation of Colorado Natural Medicine Initiative, which granted Polis the authority for such a wide-reaching decision. Coloradans with psilocybin or psilocin convictions who believe they were inadvertently overlooked in this executive pardon can reach out to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to apply for clemency.
