In 2022, voters agreed to legalizepsilocybin, known better to some as magic mushrooms. Since then, the state has been working on developing framework and regulations for using the psychedelic mushrooms under supervision. That work is still underway, even as the state is set to start accepting applications later this year for “natural healing centers,” which would be staffed by so-called “facilitators” who would supervise psilocybin use.
Harvested home-grows psilocybin mushrooms in Colorado
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Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
It’s what Courtneyrose Chung, founder and clinical director of My Denver Therapy, is hoping to do. She currently runs mental health support practices in Denver, Greenwood Village and Lone Tree.
“I kind of started it under the umbrella of trauma,” said Chung. “We have licensed professional counselors, family therapists, social workers … and a nurse practitioner, specifically for this new space we’re entering into with the psychedelics.”
One day soon, Chung wants to provide assisted psychotherapy with psilocybin.
“This particular drug can have a profound impact on people’s brains in really as little as two sessions,” Chung said. “Some research has been done on OCD, on treatment-resistant depression…anxiety, PTSD.”
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Now that Colorado is in the process of medicalizing mushrooms, Chung is another step closer to helping numerous patients she believes would benefit from the drug.
“Since this law was passed, we have had thousands of people email trying to see if it’s available yet and if they can get in,” she said.
However, as the state is still working on regulations, there are a lot of questions up in the air.
“The potential benefits of psilocybin,” said Chung, “I don’t think the greater public understands or they think, ‘Oh, people are just tripping and then something happens.’”
To help answer questions and determine best next steps for licensure, the Denver Department of Excise and License is forming a work group. It will explore what policy and licensing laws should look like in the city, while the state-wide regulations are also being developed.
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“I think a lot of citizens have questions, we as the city and as regulators have a lot of questions,” Molly Duplechian, Executive Director of EXL, said. “This is brand new for Denver, and it’s something that Denver can lead the way on. We’re really only the second state in the nation that has done this, so we want to get it right, and make sure that we can set a good example just like we did for marijuana regulations.”
It’s called the Natural Medicine Work Group, and just about anybody is being asked to apply.
“We want to hear from people who’ve been in this pace for several years and have that experience,” explained Duplechian. “We want to hear from public health advocates, youth education advocates, youth protection advocates, and really just the community. If it’s going to feel like it’s going to impact them, we want to hear from them, what concerns they have and how we can mitigate those.”
Chung said she is pleased Denver is taking this step. She also hopes the NMWG will also discuss how to better inform the public about psilocybins and what clinical practices like hers would offer.
“We are not in the business of just having people come in and get high and see what it’s like. That’s not therapeutic,” Chung said. “To prioritize people who have truly tried everything and are just desperate for healing and for help because it could change their life, that is what we’re in the business of. We want to help people get better.”
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Applications to serve on the NMWG are due by 5pm Wednesday, March 13, 2024. To apply, complete this form.
Kelly Werthmann
Kelly Werthmann is the weekend evening anchor and a weekday reporter at CBS News Colorado. Read her latest reports or check out her bio and send her an email.
Throughout the spring, the Colorado Buffaloes have battled a significant number of injuries in the wide receiver room. However, looking ahead to the fall, there are two crucial receivers that coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes will love to have back.
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Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. (0) catches the ball during the fourth quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
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DeAndre Moore Jr.
“DeAndre’s like a dynamic person. You guys will see that as he gets healthy and gets to play. So DeAndre, he’s been great from the leadership perspective and still showing up every day with a smile on his face and being happy to be there and leading the guys and teaching them what it’s like to be a receiver from the standpoint of knowledge wise and studying and learning in the room,” said offensive coordinator Brennan Marion on wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr.
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Marion making statements like this about Moore could reveal role that the Texas transfer receiver will have once healthy. In his time with Texas, Moore was very productive as he recorded 77 receptions for 988 yards, 11 touchdowns, and an average of 14 yards per catch. In his Longhorns career, Moore continued to progress and because of his versatility he was able to be a great weapon all over the field.
While the production is important, it seems that during the spring when he has been out with injury, Moore has stepped into a great role as a leader to teach the younger receivers how to prepare and be successful as a receiver when it comes to the mental side.
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Nov 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Joseph Williams (8) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images
Joseph Williams
“I love Jo, he’s a great kid. His story is amazing, he works really hard. Just excited to get those back out there not only for their play on the field, but their leadership with the guys,” added Marion on wide receiver Joseph Williams.
As one of the few returning players to Colorado for the 2026 season, Williams has put his head down to work, and that has stood out to Marion in both his character and the impact he can have on the field as a player and as a leader.
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Williams was a good option to get the ball to in 2025 and could become an even bigger factor in Marion’s offense with his speed and work ethic. Last season, Williams totaled 37 receptions, 489 yards, four touchdowns, and an average of 13.2 yards per reception with the Buffaloes.
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The offense as a whole was inconsistent last season, but when Williams was able to get the ball in his hands, he showed he had the talent to make plays and could be a great option for 2026.
Williams has missed a lot of spring due to an injury as well, but has stepped in as a leader, bringing energy to practice as he learns the new offense and helps to develop the young receivers.
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Nov 22, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Julian Lewis (10) scrambles in the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Offensive Outlook For The Fall
As a tandem, Moore and Williams have great physical traits with their speed and athleticism, but also their intangibles of leadership and understanding the game at a different level to help contribute to what many hope to be a much better offense.
The trust and anticipation that Marion seems to have in Moore and Williams suggest that both players will have a huge role in the offense when they return for fall camp. When the fall does come around, Moore and Williams do have to be prepared on the mental side for Marion’s offense, but based on their character and desire to lead, that should not be a problem.
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Redshirt freshman quarterback Julain Lewis projects to be heading into his first full year as the starter and having targets like Moore and Williams could be monumental for his development.
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Heading into the 2026 season, Marion looks to have another explosive year with his offense. Moore and Williams have a major opportunity to be consistent targets in the offense, but also can function as leaders to ensure everyone is on the same page to help the Buffaloes find success once again next season.
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Martin Necas, Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche have had a lot to celebrate this season. Jeff Curry / Imagn Images
The Colorado Avalanche clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.
This is the fourth time in franchise history the Avalanche have finished atop the NHL’s regular-season standings. They also won the Presidents’ Trophy in 1997, 2001 and 2021.
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Colorado will be looking to buck a recent trend of disappointing postseasons for Presidents’ Trophy winners. Nine of the last 10 teams to win the trophy have lost in the first two rounds of the playoffs, and no winner has won the Stanley Cup since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks.
Prior to that, the Presidents’ Trophy winner had fared relatively well in the postseason. From 1999 to 2008, four of the nine Presidents’ Trophy winners went on to win it all, including Colorado’s 2000-2001 team led by Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Patrick Roy.
Colorado has been the NHL’s dominant team from start to finish in this regular season. It is only the sixth team in league history to hold first place from Nov. 1 through the end of the season. The team has been fueled by stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, who will both be in the conversation for postseason individual awards. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood has been a pleasant surprise, leading the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average.
The Avalanche will now enter the postseason as the top seed and will face the winner of the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. That allows Colorado to avoid the dreaded 2-3 matchup in the Central Division that will pit the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, two of the league’s best teams, against each other in the opening round.
Colorado has 114 points with four games remaining, with a chance to reach 120 points for the first time in franchise history. Only 12 teams have reached that mark in NHL history, with the most recent being the 2022-23 Bruins (135 points).
Two additional cases of measles have been confirmed in Weld County. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Weld County Public Health, the new cases are in two unvaccinated adults.
Health officials said both people are household contacts of a previously confirmed case that is not linked to the Broomfield schools outbreak. However, officials said they are notifying the public about a potential exposure location in El Paso County related to those cases. Health officials told CBS Colorado last month that the outbreak at the schools had forced 80 students, staff and volunteers to stay away from the campuses due to their vaccination status.
CDPHE said the known exposure location is the Chick-fil-A at the Citadel Crossing Shopping Center located at 505 N. Academy Blvd. in Colorado Springs, March 25 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Symptoms may occur through April 15.
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CDPHE said while the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is highly effective, breakthrough cases can occur, especially following prolonged exposure within a household. Breakthrough cases typically experience milder illness and are less likely to spread the virus to others.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Getting the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
Additional Information from the CDPHE:
What to do if you were exposed
Watch for symptoms: Measles symptoms begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that usually starts several days later on the face and spreads. If you were at the location at the listed date and time, you may have been exposed. Watch for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Monitoring for symptoms is especially critical for people who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine, particularly infants under one year of age who are not routinely recommended for the vaccine. If you develop symptoms, call CDPHE (720-653-3369) or your local public health agency right away.
Call before you go: If you need medical care, do not delay. Call your health care provider, urgent care, or emergency department before going in, and tell them you may have been exposed to measles. This helps prevent further spread.
More information
Visit the CDPHE measles webpage, which includes information about symptoms, transmission, and vaccine recommendations, 2026 Colorado measles case information, and a current list of exposure locations.
