Department of Community Development
Reference: Natural Medicine - Land Use & Development Code Articles 4 and 11
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of the City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Summer McCann, Senior Planner
James Gallagher, Assistant City Attorney
Date Prepared: June 20, 2025
PURPOSE
To review and consider amendments to the Land Use & Development Code (the "Code") regarding Natural Medicine businesses.
PROCESS
Amendments to the Code may be initiated by the City Council, Planning Commission, and staff on behalf of these entities, as outlined in the Code.
The City Council should use the review criteria outlined in Section 2.10(B) for changes to the Code. The amendment criteria generally include the following:
* Furthering the purposes of the Code;
* Amendments being in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan;
* Promoting the public safety, health, and general welfare of the community; and
* Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of administering the Code.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS
On November 8, 2022, Colorado voters approved Proposition 122 - commonly known as the Natural Medicine Health Act - which established a state-regulated framework for natural medicine services and therapeutic programs and decriminalized certain natural medicine substances, such as Psilocybin, Psilocin, Dimethyltryptamine, Ibogaine, and Mescaline. Proposition 122 passed statewide with 53.64% support, including Adams County voters approving the initiative with 56.2% support.
To implement Proposition 122, the Colorado legislature enacted Senate Bill 23-290 ("SB 23-290") in April 2023, which Governor Polis signed into law on May 23, 2023. SB 23-290 formally created a statewide regulatory system for governing both natural medicine businesses and services. Among other items, SB 23-290 created and authorized the operation of natural medicine healing centers, cultivation facilities, na...
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