Join the conversation: Aspen’s annual Psychedelic Symposium returns

On Nov. 8, 2022, Colorado passed the Natural Medicine Act/Proposition 122, which decriminalizes “the personal possession, growing, sharing, and use — but not the sale — of five natural psychedelic substances by individuals aged 21 and over, including two substances found in psychedelic mushrooms.”

This opened the door to the state becoming a leader in psychedelic research and treatments.

By May 2023, Gov. Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 23-290, “Natural Medicine Regulation and Legalization,” into law, which clarifies and sets the framework for a regulated natural medicine program in Colorado.

Since then, the conversation around psychedelic and plant-based treatment and advocacy has moved at a breakneck pace.

On Friday and Saturday, the conversation returns to the Wheeler Opera House for the second annual Aspen Psychedelic Symposium featuring researchers, advocates, and medical professionals presented by Aspen Public Radio (APR), Healing Advocacy Fund, and the Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center.

“One of the things I love about Aspen is the legacy commitment our community has to lifelong learning,” said APR Executive Director Breeze Richardson, who will be giving closing remarks at the symposium. “Due in large part to the efforts of Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke, Aspen has been a cultural center for over 75 years.”

Healing Advocacy Fund operates in both states that have decriminalized some psychedelics — Oregon and Colorado. The group aims to educate the public about the benefits of psychedelic therapy for mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, and addiction.

The organization’s state director, Tasia Poinsatte, who worked on the Prop 122 campaign, said the situation in Colorado has evolved since last year’s symposium and that after extensive stakeholder input, the state is months away from a program launch in early 2025.

“There has been a lot of community engagement along the way informing questions around the training requirements to become a licensed psilocybin facilitator, safety assessments to direct people to the right level of support and care based on their health history, and other important topics,” she said. “We now have a much clearer sense of what this regulated program will look like, and Coloradans are getting trained and preparing to launch healing centers or incorporate this modality within their existing health practice.”

This newfound legislative framework and the efforts of the advisory board have provided a level of legitimacy and structure to these conversations, thereby encouraging experts in the field to engage more openly. The conversation has gone mainstream and the community overall has become more educated.

Locally, Aspen Psychedelic Resource Center and symposium lead organizers Martha Hammel and Laura Betti have worked to meet the need for local support and education to meet the growing awareness of the potential benefits of psychedelics for mental health and to encourage individuals to be active participants in their healing.

“Pitkin County voted ‘Yes’ for Proposition 122 by 74%. The city of Aspen voted ‘Yes’ for 122 by 81%. The Roaring Fork Valley is overwhelmingly supportive of psychedelics. APRC continues to strive to provide education for the entire community,” Betti said. “In response to this, there is a need for accessible resources to mitigate adverse experiences. This necessitates grassroots peer support networks and local educational initiatives to ensure safe and informed practices within our community.”

The Psychedelic Symposium aims to be a resource to anyone who wants to learn more and engage in further dialogue on the subject.

The two-day gathering will showcase expert panels, groundbreaking research, and firsthand insights into the transformative world of psychedelic medicines. Tradition, science, and advocacy will be explored; scientists, doctors, and luminaries will be present to delve into the future of psychedelics. 

The event will feature 30 speakers, six-panel discussions, and three keynote presentations from some of the biggest names in psychedelics today (Rick Doblin, Namae Ntumae, and Gul Dolen), several short-film screenings, six spotlight talks showcasing local and national voices which will explore the potential of psychedelics to overcome paralysis, the advancement of psychedelic-assisted care, traditional practices, addiction recovery, eco-restoration and regenerative agriculture, holistic health, and the experiences of an autistic psychedelic researcher.

One of the panels people might be particularly interested in was produced by Kevin Matthews: The historic voter-approved “Denver Psilocybin Initiative” that made Denver the first city in the United States to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms for personal use and began a nationwide movement to decriminalize plant medicines in major cities across the country.

“It has been a longstanding goal of public media to create and distribute content that is for, by, and about Americans of all backgrounds, and to foster dialogue between us,” Richardson said. “Whether we’re producing radio content, digital content, or live public programming, our efforts are enriched by stories that speak to the widest range of American experiences.”

For tickets and more information, visit aspenpublicradio.org.

Symposium passes are available now on aspenshowtix.com for $100 per person for the full, two-day event, with single-day passes available for $60 each, as organizers aim to provide affordable access to this important conversation.

Sarah Girgis is the Arts and Entertainment Editor for The Aspen Times. She can be reached at 970-429-9151 or sgirgis@aspentimes.com.