As Colorado comes closer to issuing psilocybin licenses in January, Arapahoe County is considering regulations.

Approved two years ago, Proposition 122 decriminalized the possession, use, and cultivation of psilocybin — commonly known as “magic mushrooms” — making Colorado the second state in the nation to do so.

The proposition also decriminalized the use of certain plants and fungi for people 21 and older.

The state will start issuing licenses starting in January 2025, but the county can regulate the time, manner and place of such businesses, as long as the county’s regulations are reasonable and align with state laws.

The proposition is unlike Amendment 64, which allowed retail marijuana in Colorado, in that it does not allow local jurisdictions to ban natural medicine businesses. Local jurisdictions are allowed to ban medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries and production facilities. 

As January comes closer, Arapahoe officials have proposed some regulations and scheduled a public hearing to discuss regulations. These would come as an amendment to the county’s Land Development Code.

The regulations would identify zone districts where businesses would be allowed to provide services through state-licensed facilitators. Businesses would be allowed to operate in areas zoned for offices uses and other natural medicine businesses, as well as in most commercial and industrial zone districts, according to the county.

Approved businesses would be required to stay 1,000 feet away from schools preschool through high school and day care facilities. 

Regulations would also limit in-home cultivations of mushrooms to the state’s maximum plot size of 12 feet by 12 feet.

The county’s planning commission will hold a public hearing on Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Arapahoe Board Room at Arapahoe County Lima Plaza, 6954 S. Lima St., Centennial.

The Board of County Commissioners will hold another public hearing on Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m. in the East Hearing Room at the Administration Building, 5334 S. Prince St. in Littleton.

Members of the public can comment at the hearings in-person or by calling 855-436-3656 and joining the speaking queue.