Denver decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms in 2019, making it the first city in the US to ease restrictions on psilocybin. For 5280, Robert Sanchez reports on the latest developments in Colorado’s psilocybin movement, highlighting a team of University of Colorado Denver scientists leading one of the nation’s largest studies into the drug’s therapeutic and palliative potential. As Sanchez delved into the reporting, he found himself growing increasingly curious about the benefits of mushrooms. “The past year had easily been the worst of my life,” he writes. Could microdosing offer the mental reset he was searching for?
More picks by Robert Sanchez
Winter Finally Comes for Gothic’s Billy Barr
“Billy Barr has braved the fourth season deep in the Rocky Mountains for more than 50 years, amassing an unrivaled record of climate data.”
The Coloradans Exercising Their Right To Die—and a Doctor Who Helps Them Find Peace
“More terminally ill Coloradans than ever are turning to Denver Health’s Medical Aid in Dying clinic. We spent the summer witnessing the quiet decisions and final moments of those who chose when—and how—to say goodbye.”
Everyone Loved a Colorado Prison’s VFW Post—Until a Popular YouTuber Heard About It
“When the VFW opened a chapter inside northeastern Colorado’s Sterling Correctional Facility, the post was celebrated as a victory for prison reform nationwide. So why did it get canceled?”
The Charming, Eccentric, Blessed Life of Lee Maxwell
“As the decades passed, washing machines materialized on his property.”
Did Bad Fire Science Send Tim and Deb Nicholls to Prison?
“When he opens the bedroom window, there’s smoke billowing past his head. The next thing he recalls is waking up outside to a nightmare.”
How the Only All-Black Team in College Swimming Became the Sport’s Hottest Ticket
“In a sport plagued by issues of representation, Howard University coach Nic Askew isn’t just building a strong program; he’s building something bigger.”
