Join the Movement to Support Safe, Equitable Access to Psychedelic Medicines in Colorado
Healing Advocacy Fund Colorado exists to support safe, equitable and effective implementation of the Natural Medicine Health Act, with the hope that Colorado can serve as a model for thoughtful and ethical reform. Grounded in values of safety, inclusivity, equity and responsibility, we intend to foster opportunities for community participation as this implementation journey unfolds. We understand that this is a time of excitement and hope, as well as uncertainty, since the passage of Proposition 122 represents a major shift in our approach to natural medicines and to mental health more broadly.
As executive director of the Healing Advocacy Fund in Colorado, my role is to engage our community, support implementation and work to ensure natural medicines are accessible. Prior to joining the Healing Advocacy Fund, I worked as a research director in Denver supporting campaigns and legislation on a range of issues including early childhood education, forest conservation and healthcare affordability. Working on the Proposition 122 campaign, I have had the pleasure of connecting with many incredible people in Colorado's psychedelic, policy, research and healthcare communities. I am from Colorado and have spent most of my life here, so it is an honor to dedicate myself to implementation of an initiative that will directly affect the lives of my fellow Coloradans.
This moment asks members of our community, including policymakers, to learn and adapt as we create new and innovative structures. Our organization exists as a resource in this process, but more importantly, to create channels for involvement for those who have expertise and knowledge to share.
Thank you for being a part of this change, and we look forward to connecting with you in the weeks and months ahead.
Tasia Poinsatte
Executive Director, Colorado
Tasia@HealingAdvocacyFund.org
UPDATES
Stay involved!
Many thanks to those of you who have already filled out our coalition survey. If you have not done so already and would like to be a part of organizing across the state in support of safe, equitable access to natural medicines, please take a moment to answer a brief survey.
Interested in serving on a subcommittee of the Natural Medicine Advisory Board?
You can now submit an online form indicating interest in serving on a subcommittee or providing expert testimony to inform the work of the Natural Medicine Advisory Board directly with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Do so by navigating to the Division of Professions and Occupations Natural Medicine Health Act Homepage and clicking on “Sign up for updates” – or you can navigate directly to the interest form here.
IN THE NEWS
The Veterans Fighting To Legalize Psychedelics
New York Times Podcast, The Daily
This episode of the New York Times podcast The Daily explores the work that veterans are doing to support access to psychedelic medicines across the country. Juliana Mercer, a marine veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, describes her own struggles with mental health witnessing the physical and emotional devastations of war—and the relief that psilocybin provided her:
“20 years of that collected trauma and grief and pain just completely left my body. And I woke up, and looked in the mirror, and didn’t recognize who I saw. I was connected to — reconnected to my loving, joyful, authentic self. And it was somebody that I hadn’t seen in a really long time.”
Psychedelic Assisted Therapy: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
John Oliver jumped into the conversation around psychedelics with a feature on Last Week Tonight, which explores some of the history of psychedelics as well as recent research findings, their promise, and potential risks.
> Watch here
What’s next for legalized psilocybin? An Aspen panel discusses long, messy road ahead
The Aspen Times
An Aspen panel met to discuss what’s next for Proposition 122 – delving into challenges and opportunities while highlighting the mental health crisis that Colorado is currently facing.
> Read the full article