Colorado psychedelic therapy program considers expanding options
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A review of rules governing Colorado's psychedelic therapy program will include potentially expanding the substances available for treatment.
Why it matters: The change would make Colorado the first state to use ibogaine — a psychoactive found in the roots of the African shrub iboga — for regulated medical treatment.
The big picture: The state will consider adding ibogaine to its Natural Medicine program after the Natural Medicine Advisory Board's recommendation last year, spokesperson Heather Draper told us.
- Two state agencies must sign off, Draper added.
State of play: Psilocybin is currently the only natural medicine available to patients seeking psychedelic therapy in state-licensed healing centers, which administer the substance under supervision.
- Colorado is determining how to effectively integrate ibogaine to its existing framework.
Yes, but: Obtaining ibogaine may be difficult because the U.S. isn't part of an international agreement governing its importation, Westword reports. Ibogaine is currently available for recreational use locally.
What they're saying: Ibogaine can be "super effective" at treating addiction, potentially even greater than psilocybin, The Center Origin CEO Elizabeth Cooke tells us.
- The wellness center received the state's first healing center license to operate in downtown Denver last March. It hosted its first psychedelic therapy session last June, completing just over 95 sessions last year, Cooke tells us.
- The plant medicine has shown promising results for treating people with traumatic brain injuries.
By the numbers: The state currently lists nine standard and 25 micro-licensed healing centers, with 18 pending applications.
- Standard healing centers are dedicated solely to psilocybin-assisted therapy, while micro centers can be part of existing mental health or wellness operations, per CPR.
Zoom out: Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline not sourced from peyote are also under consideration for an advisory board recommendation for natural medicine use starting July 1, though the board hasn't yet started discussing including them, Draper adds.
What's next: The state's psychedelic therapy program regulations review, including for ibogaine, will begin in the spring.