Colorado would study ibogaine and regulate its supervised use

The Behavioral Health Administration would operate an ibogaine research pilot program and may approve up to five pilot sites. The program would study ibogaine for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder. Pilot sites must intend to seek federal approval and establish a benefit-sharing plan that directly benefits Indigenous communities traditionally connected to ibogaine or iboga. The administration would help sites pursue federal drug research approval, collect research data, and report findings publicly. Operating a pilot site would require federal approval. Money in the pilot fund would be available to administer the program and award grants. These provisions would take effect only after the administration receives $150,000 in qualifying gifts, grants, donations, or equivalent in-kind support before January 1, 2028. The program would be repealed if additional support covering its remaining operating costs is not received within 365 days after that condition takes effect.

Ibogaine from specified plants or another board-recommended source could be treated as natural medicine for supervised administration sessions. The provisions cover ibogaine made through a semi-synthetic process using Tabernanthe iboga or Voacanga africana, and possibly another board-recommended source. The Natural Medicine Advisory Board would need to recommend or approve the medicine, and the state licensing authority would need to permit its use. The state could set medical prescreening, continuous monitoring, trained medical oversight, and aftercare requirements. The licensing authority could limit ibogaine products and set manufacturing, testing, labeling, and recordkeeping standards. The state would not have to add another natural medicine if program funding is insufficient. These provisions would apply when the act takes effect, unless a referendum petition is filed; in that case, they would require voter approval and would begin when the governor officially declares the vote.

Healing centers could use temporary locations, and a co-located limited sales license could transfer natural medicine for use during supervised sessions. A temporary location would need a permit, and a limited sales license would need common ownership with a healing center where administration sessions occur. Temporary locations would need department approval, paid fees, local zoning permission, and compliance with applicable rules. A limited sales license could store, purchase, possess, transfer, and invoice medicine only for use during a supervised session at the co-located healing center. A healing center could not sell regulated natural medicine unless the co-located limited sales licensee conducts the transaction. Rules could set security, records, reporting, eligibility, and fee requirements. These licensing options would apply when the act takes effect, unless a referendum petition is filed; after a successful referendum, they would begin when the governor officially declares the vote.

The state could stop unlicensed natural-medicine activity, while certain paid harm-reduction or support services would remain allowed under stated limits. The enforcement power would cover people acting without required licenses to own, grow, transfer, manufacture, supervise, provide, or administer natural medicine. A director could issue a cease-and-desist order based on credible evidence of unlicensed activity. The person receiving the order could request a hearing within 14 days. Paid harm-reduction or support services could not advertise natural medicine, transfer medicine as part of a sale, or use the services to conduct sales. A facilitator would not owe malpractice damages for covered injuries unless intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or a departure from accepted practice caused the injury. These provisions would apply when the act takes effect, unless a referendum petition is filed; after a successful referendum, they would begin when the governor officially declares the vote.