Longmont Public Safety (LPS) issued a notice last week reminding the community that operating a motor vehicle under the influence of any impairing substance is still illegal and grounds for a driving under the influence (DUI) charge. The notice comes as healing centers that utilize psilocybin mushrooms, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ibogaine, and mescaline (excluding peyote) have been opening in the state nearly three years after a ballot initiative (Colorado Proposition 122, the Decriminalization, Regulated Distribution, and Therapy Program for Certain Hallucinogenic Plants and Fungi Initiative) passed during the 2022 election.
“The Colorado Department of Revenue’s (DOR) Natural Medicine Division has provided licenses to 21 healing centers, 97 natural medicine business owners, and 67 handlers (employees) in the state,” LPS said. The department said that impairment from natural medicine can last much longer than users anticipate, potentially impairing a person’s ability to drive for days.
It is legal to use this medicine at home or in natural healing centers. When an individual partakes in natural medicine ceremonies at a licensed healing center, they are required to fill out a transportation plan form and confirm that they have safe transportation from the facility following the appointment.
“As advocates for natural medicine, we have a shared responsibility to keep our communities safe,” said Unlimited Sciences Executive Director Katie Pickard. “That means making the conscious choice to never drive while impaired,”
Law enforcement officers are trained to spot impaired drivers under the influence of a range of different substances, including natural medicines, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and cannabis. The penalties and punishment for a DUI does not vary based on the substance and can include large fines, drivers license suspension, and potential jail time.
Users of natural medicine may experience several effects that will impair driving capabilities, including slowed reaction time, visual and auditory hallucinations, disordered thinking, and loss of muscle control. More information is available at CDOT’s natural medicine website.
