“As Colorado’s department with the most boards and commissioners, I have confidence in the people who have been appointed and their ability to serve Colorado’s public interest.”
By Lindsey Toomer, Colorado Newsline
A Colorado Senate committee approved the initial nominations for a panel of 15 members that will oversee Colorado’s new framework for legalized cannabis use last week.
The Natural Medicine Advisory Board assists Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies in developing rules and regulations for implementation of the Natural Medicine Health Act. Colorado voters approved it last November. This measure allows licensed “healing centres” to offer psilocybin or psilocyn, psychoactive compounds found in many species, for therapeutic purposes.
Patty Salazar, DORA Executive Director, told the committee that the selection process for the board’s first-of-its kind had to be thoughtful and thorough. She added that the appointees were “a complex puzzle” as they included representatives from each of 12 categories of the ballot measure.
Salazar stated that “As the state agency with the most boards and commissioners, I am confident in the people who have been appointed” and that they will serve the public interest. I’m also certain that these appointees can help ensure that Colorado continues to be a model for other states as they consider legalizing psilocybin.
Salazar stated that 226 applicants applied for the advisory boards. All of them were reviewed by Salazar’s office of boards, commissions and DORA.
Salazar stated that diversity was a top priority when selecting the board. Seven of the seven nominees are women, one is nonbinary and 40 percent are people who are different from them. Twenty percent are Native Americans and twenty percent are people with disabilities. Two residents are from the Western Slope: one from the eastern plains, and three from south Colorado.
Gov. Gov. Before they can start work, the appointees must be confirmed by the Colorado State Senate.
The 15 appointees of Polis spoke out publicly at a hearing held by the Senate Finance Committee on March 14, which voted unanimously in favor of advancing the nominations to full Senate. Below is information about each nominee.
Skippy Upton Mesirow
Skippy Upton Mesirow is currently a member of Aspen’s city council. He founded a company that focuses on mental health.
Mesirow stated that Aspen is home to some of the most severe mental health problems in Colorado. He led a team of clinicians, scientists, and harm reduction specialists who tried to create a framework for psychedelic medicines in Aspen. Mesirow stated that he was happy to share his knowledge at the state level, as the Natural Medicine Health Act was passed before Mesirow’s work was completed.
David Lucero
David Lucero, Pueblo Sheriff, spoke out about the unintended consequences that Colorado experienced with legalizing marijuana. He stated that he joined this board to examine the potential consequences and help the state implement its will.
Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Clarissa Pinkola Estes, a Native American post-trauma specialist, has 53 years of experience. As a board member, she said that she hopes to bring safety science, sanity, and the “sacred”, to the program’s rollout.
Estes stated that her work with trauma victims included “my sense that natural medicine may be able” to bring them back to their true selves if used with caution, scrutiny, care, and sacred intention. Estes said, “For this, I believe it is a worthy endeavor.
Katina Banks
Katina Banks, a lawyer, has supported many nonprofits and civic boards throughout her 20-year career. She was a member of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, where she helped to guide the rulemaking process that protected LGBTQ people from discrimination. She hopes to bring about consensus on the board and ensure that implementation is done safely, fairly, and equitable.
Billy Wynne
Billy Wynne, a lawyer who is an expert in health policy and has worked with many health care organizations to develop state and federal policies. He stated that natural medicines have “great promise” in supporting mental and behavioral health and that he wants equitable and safe access to them.
Alisa Hannum
Dr. Alisa Hannum stated that she spent her entire career as a clinical psychologist, providing evidence-based treatment for veterans suffering from PTSD and depression due to combat or military sexual trauma. She believes Colorado is able to set the standard for other states by establishing regulations.
Hannum stated that, “Even though we have evidence-based treatments for these conditions which work for many people, both research as well as my more than 12 years of clinical experience have shown that our current treatments are not effective in treating about 1/3 of those with PTSD or depression.” Clinical research has shown that psilocybin, along with other natural remedies, may be an effective treatment option for those who have not responded to standard mental healthcare.
Tina Ernestine Gonzales
Tina Ernestine Gonzales is an expert in public health, harm reduction, and public safety. She hopes natural medicines will help relieve some of the stress that the health care system is currently experiencing. Her service on the Colorado Commission on Criminal Juvenile Justice was under former Governor. John Hickenlooper (D), is a rural advocate.
Ricardo Baca
Ricardo Baca, an indigenous journalist and veteran Latino journalist, believes ethics is at the heart of his work. He was the Denver Post’s first marijuana editor. There, he stated that he gained extensive knowledge about Colorado’s legalization process. This expertise will prove to be invaluable to the Natural Medicine Advisory Board.
Lundy Nelson
Lundy Nelson stated that they are passionate about being on the board to represent mental health providers and the disparities in access for different communities. They have also had personal experience with natural medicine and have “lived mental illness experience”.
Nelson stated, “As an underrepresented businessperson, I know firsthand the inequalities within the natural medicine industry and the ways that the advisory board can help to correct them.”
Joshua Goodwin
Joshua Goodwin, a combat-wounded vet who sustained a traumatic brain injury during wartime, wants to be a representative of veterans. According to Dr. Joshua Goodwin, natural medicine is worth the effort because there is no single treatment for mental health.
Wendy Buxton-Andrade
Wendy Buxton-Andrade, a Prowers County commissioner, wants to ensure that rural Colorado’s perspectives are properly considered by the board. She stated that she is an accu detox specialist and has seen the positive effects it has on individuals. However, she has concerns about how the adolescents will normalize the use of psychedelic medication.
Buxton-Andrade stated, “As elected officials we must ensure that we regulate natural medicines just like we do pharmaceuticals because they can be as dangerous to our communities and most importantly to our constituents.” We all want Colorado to implement this properly, and I want it to work for all of Colorado.
William Dunn
William Dunn, who has been in EMS for more than 30 years, is the chief medical officer at Eagle County Paramedics. He also chairs Colorado’s Emergency Medical Practice Advisory Board. He was one of the lead authors of a 2002 study that examined the benefits of intramuscular naloxone. This drug is used by first responders for opioid overdose treatment.
Suzanne Sisley
Dr. Suzanne Sisley is the only licensed person in the nation to grow psilocybin mushrooms in lab conditions for FDA clinical trials. Her work involves collaboration with underground growers and legacy farmers, mycologists, chemists, and mycologists to work on potency testing. She hopes to bring her expertise to Colorado’s board in order to shape a program that will be a model for the country.
Bradley Conner
Dr. Bradley Conner, Colorado State University’s director of addiction counseling, is interested in serving on the board to train and educate natural medicine providers and facilitators. He has designed several educational programs about addiction counseling. He is interested in further research into natural medicine dosing recommendations.
Sofia Chavez
Sofia Chavez, a doctor of natural medicines, was raised using traditional medicine and says she is eager to help Indigenous voices and people suffering from depression. She has provided classes and teachings to health care professionals that were culturally competent and she believes there is growing evidence supporting the inclusion “sacred teaching master plant” psychedelic mushrooms.
Chavez stated that psychedelic mushrooms were a “master plant, a teacher plant, which provides opportunities for healing and improving outcomes, for all people, all nations.”
The story was published first by Colorado Newsline.
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