COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — As Colorado becomes the second state to legalize psychedelic therapy this week, a conflict is unfolding in Colorado Springs. Here, conservative leaders are imposing restrictions on the treatment, despite objections from some of the city’s 90,000 veterans, who have emerged as advocates for psychedelic therapy to address post-traumatic stress disorder.

In 2022, Colorado residents voted to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in psychedelic mushrooms, initiating a two-year rulemaking process before it could be employed to treat conditions like depression and PTSD.

This week marks the start for companies and individuals to apply for licenses to administer this mind-altering drug, although actual treatments are expected to be several months away as applications undergo processing.

Colorado joins Oregon in legalizing psilocybin therapy, while the substance remains illegal in most other states and at the federal level. Over the past year, an increasing number of Oregon cities have voted to prohibit psilocybin. Although Colorado metros cannot outlaw the treatment under state law, several conservative cities have taken steps to preemptively limit what are referred to as “healing centers.”

During a City Council meeting in Colorado Springs this month, members were poised to vote on extending the state’s prohibition on healing centers from 1,000 feet (305 meters) to 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) from certain locations, including schools. Veterans, speaking from the lectern, urged them not to proceed with this measure.

“We have a chance to support veterans, and it’s an easy decision to make,” said Lane Belone, a special forces veteran who has found benefit in his own psychedelic experiences. Belone argued that these restrictions would effectively limit the number of centers, resulting in longer waiting lists for treatment.

Some veterans have garnered conservative support for psychedelic therapy, distinguishing it from other politically sensitive drug policies like marijuana legalization.

This distinction was emphasized by Councilmember David Leinweber during the council meeting, where he remarked that marijuana is “literally killing our kids” but expressed support for expanding access to psilocybin therapy.

Psilocybin is subject to far more restrictions in Colorado compared to marijuana, which was legalized in the state in 2014. While psilocybin is decriminalized, there will be no recreational dispensaries; its use will be primarily confined to licensed businesses and therapeutic sessions with certified facilitators.

Patients will undergo a risk assessment, initial meetings, and follow-up sessions, staying with a facilitator while under the drug’s influence. The psilocybin will also be tested, and companies growing it will be regulated by a state agency.

However, granting broader access to the treatment has not been straightforward for many city council members, including three who are veterans themselves. Colorado Springs, home to several military bases, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, is promoted by local leaders as an ideal community for retired service members.

“I will never criticize a veteran seeking medical treatment for the issues they face,” said Council President Randy Helms, a veteran himself. Yet he added, “Do I think it’s beneficial not just for veterans but for individuals? Probably. Do I think it needs rigorous testing? Absolutely.”

The Colorado Springs City Council went ahead and passed the proposed restrictions.

While research has shown potential for psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA, also known as molly, in aiding those with conditions such as alcoholism, depression, and PTSD, the scientific exploration is still relatively nascent.

“I’m optimistic about the potential benefits, but concerned that we might be moving too quickly,” said Jeffrey Lieberman, a Columbia University psychiatry professor involved in studies on the therapeutic efficacy of psychedelic drugs.

The risks, Lieberman noted, include patients being misled and paying out of pocket for costly treatments. He also warned of cases where these drugs could worsen severe mental health issues, such as schizophrenia.

In Oregon, where treatments began in June 2023, a single session can cost up to $2,000. Out of the more than 16,000 doses administered in the state, staff have only had to call 911 or take a patient to the hospital five times.

Some Colorado Springs city council members voiced concerns that the Food and Drug Administration has not approved psilocybin for treating mental health conditions, and in August, rejected MDMA for PTSD treatment. Clinical trials for both drugs are still ongoing.

Researchers, advocacy groups, and veterans worry that waiting for the slow-moving bureaucracy — particularly the FDA — poses its own risks as people continue to battle mental illnesses. Advocates argue that psychedelic therapy provides an option for those who have not found success with traditional talk therapy and antidepressants.

“We are facing a crisis, and this is a tool we can add to our toolbox,” said Taylor West, executive director of the Healing Advocacy Fund, which promotes psychedelic therapy.

Belone shared that his military experiences lingered long after leaving the special forces. It began when he first heard artillery sirens wailing at a U.S. base in Iraq, his breath catching in fear for those tense moments.

Upon returning home, that fear kept him vigilant, always keeping his back to the wall, scanning for exits, never fully able to immerse himself in the music at a concert.

A psychedelic experience with psilocybin, Belone recounted, helped him connect the fear from the war zone to the persistent anxiety at home. While it didn't resolve everything instantly, it allowed him to better recognize when that underlying fear was hindering a joyful life.