News & Insights
July 2024 Update: The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Concludes Facilitator Rulemaking for Implementation of the Natural Medicine Health Act
As Colorado continues to lead in progressive health legislation, the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), in charge of regulating the education, licensing, and conduct of facilitators, is at the forefront of implementing the Natural Medicine Health Act. The process has involved rigorous rulemaking to ensure the safe and effective administration of natural medicine services, including regulations on licensing, training, and professional conduct.
Colorado Passes Natural Medicine Health Act Clean-Up Bill
On May 13, 2024, Colorado passed Senate Bill 24-198, a clean-up bill designed to assist with the implementation of the Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act (NMHA). Among technical fixes to add more clarity to the statute, the NMHA was amended to shift the responsibility of approving facilitator education and training programs from the Division of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS), within the Colorado Department of Higher Education, to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). SB 24-198 exempts facilitator education and training programs from regulation as private educational schools in hopes of making the licensing process less burdensome for aspiring educators and practitioners.
Natural Medicine Health Act Rulemaking has Officially Commenced in Colorado
Colorado’s regulated psychedelic access program is emerging with the recent publication of draft regulations governing facilitator training and business licensing. After 26 committee meetings and 11 listening sessions, the Department of Revenue (DOR) and the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) have released their first rounds of draft rules and will be holding meetings to accept public comment over the next few months.
Colorado Natural Medicine Health Act Overview
In recent years, Colorado has become a focal point of psychedelic policy reform. In May 2019, Denver became the first city in the nation to deprioritize the arrest and prosecution of adults engaging in the personal use of psilocybin. Three years later, in November 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act (“NMHA”). The law includes both a statewide decriminalization component and a framework for a regulated access system to psilocybin, and eventually other “natural medicines.” In May 2023, Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 23-290 to implement the NMHA, and it took effect on July 1st, 2023.